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| Missing Wales rugby fan: Ben Thompson's wife's appeal | Missing Wales rugby fan: Ben Thompson's wife's appeal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The wife of missing rugby fan Ben Thompson has pleaded to anyone who saw him on the night he went missing to come forward. | The wife of missing rugby fan Ben Thompson has pleaded to anyone who saw him on the night he went missing to come forward. |
| Jo Thompson, struggling to contain her emotions, said: "Please help me find my husband." | Jo Thompson, struggling to contain her emotions, said: "Please help me find my husband." |
| Mr Thompson, 34, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, was last seen by friends in Cardiff at about 18:30 GMT after the Wales-Ireland rugby game on Saturday. | Mr Thompson, 34, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, was last seen by friends in Cardiff at about 18:30 GMT after the Wales-Ireland rugby game on Saturday. |
| CCTV images of his last known movements were released earlier. | CCTV images of his last known movements were released earlier. |
| The CCTV footage shows him crossing Leckwith Road into Lawrenny Avenue, Leckwith, near the Cardiff City Stadium, at 19:17 GMT on Saturday. | The CCTV footage shows him crossing Leckwith Road into Lawrenny Avenue, Leckwith, near the Cardiff City Stadium, at 19:17 GMT on Saturday. |
| Speaking at a press conference, Mrs Thompson said: "I would like to thank all of Ben's colleagues and friends for their help with our efforts in finding Ben. | Speaking at a press conference, Mrs Thompson said: "I would like to thank all of Ben's colleagues and friends for their help with our efforts in finding Ben. |
| "It just proved how loved he is. He's kind and loving and an exceptional friend." | "It just proved how loved he is. He's kind and loving and an exceptional friend." |
| Her voice broke as she said: "Please help me find my husband." | Her voice broke as she said: "Please help me find my husband." |
| Mrs Thompson was joined at a news conference, hosted by police in Cardiff, by her husband's brother Mark, his mother Avril, and her brother Philip Coles. | Mrs Thompson was joined at a news conference, hosted by police in Cardiff, by her husband's brother Mark, his mother Avril, and her brother Philip Coles. |
| Mark Thompson described his brother as a person who was universally liked. | Mark Thompson described his brother as a person who was universally liked. |
| He said: "He's a great guy and fun loving and committed." | He said: "He's a great guy and fun loving and committed." |
| He explained that a large group of colleagues from Mr Thompson's work at South Hook LNG in Milforn Haven had come up to Cardiff by 08:00 GMT on Tuesday to help with the search. | He explained that a large group of colleagues from Mr Thompson's work at South Hook LNG in Milforn Haven had come up to Cardiff by 08:00 GMT on Tuesday to help with the search. |
| He said his brother had come to Cardiff with a friend on Friday night and was staying at a hotel near Cardiff Airport. | He said his brother had come to Cardiff with a friend on Friday night and was staying at a hotel near Cardiff Airport. |
| The family believe he was trying to get back there when he went missing. | The family believe he was trying to get back there when he went missing. |
| "Everybody's worried sick. We just need to find him," he said. | "Everybody's worried sick. We just need to find him," he said. |
| Mr Thompson called his brother a very fit man who took part in the Etape De Tour, which is a stage of the Tour de France which is ridden by non-professional riders, every year and was "always cycling and in the gym". | |
| He added his brother's phone was switched off at around 18:00 GMT and had not been switched back on. | He added his brother's phone was switched off at around 18:00 GMT and had not been switched back on. |
| He said: "That's the hardest thing is just not knowing. | He said: "That's the hardest thing is just not knowing. |
| "Where is he? | "Where is he? |
| "Jo's in bits. She's just devastated." | |
| Chief Inspector Eddie Ough, of South Wales Police, said police dogs and horses were also involved in the search along with a team of 50 officers. | Chief Inspector Eddie Ough, of South Wales Police, said police dogs and horses were also involved in the search along with a team of 50 officers. |
| He said: "We're going to maintain that number for the next few days." | He said: "We're going to maintain that number for the next few days." |
| Police and volunteers have been carrying out door to door inquiries in the area Mr Thompson was last seen. | Police and volunteers have been carrying out door to door inquiries in the area Mr Thompson was last seen. |
| About 30 of his family and friends travelled to the Welsh capital from Haverfordwest for the press conference on Tuesday at the Sandmartin pub at the Leckwith retail park, close to where he was last seen. | About 30 of his family and friends travelled to the Welsh capital from Haverfordwest for the press conference on Tuesday at the Sandmartin pub at the Leckwith retail park, close to where he was last seen. |
| The CCTV footage from Saturday shows that Mr Thompson appears to have come from the direction of the Jubilee recreation ground, which is between Sloper Road and Leckwith Road. | The CCTV footage from Saturday shows that Mr Thompson appears to have come from the direction of the Jubilee recreation ground, which is between Sloper Road and Leckwith Road. |
| Police search teams are continuing to focus their efforts in this area. | Police search teams are continuing to focus their efforts in this area. |
| Ch Insp Ough of South Wales Police said: "Ben's family and friends are getting increasingly worried and we are keeping them fully updated on our search. | Ch Insp Ough of South Wales Police said: "Ben's family and friends are getting increasingly worried and we are keeping them fully updated on our search. |
| Favourite pub | Favourite pub |
| "We would like to thank members of the public who have responded to our appeals for information. | "We would like to thank members of the public who have responded to our appeals for information. |
| "We are now particularly keen to hear from anyone who has seen Ben since 7.17pm on Saturday." | "We are now particularly keen to hear from anyone who has seen Ben since 7.17pm on Saturday." |
| After Mr Thompson was seen by friends in Mill Lane in the city centre he walked to Canton and is believed to have been spotted on CCTV there about 40 minutes later. | After Mr Thompson was seen by friends in Mill Lane in the city centre he walked to Canton and is believed to have been spotted on CCTV there about 40 minutes later. |
| Mr Thompson's brother-in-law Philip Coles said: "We're so grateful for all the people helping to search for Ben. They've all been incredible. They're all helping the officers with door-to-door inquiries" | Mr Thompson's brother-in-law Philip Coles said: "We're so grateful for all the people helping to search for Ben. They've all been incredible. They're all helping the officers with door-to-door inquiries" |
| And he appealed for anyone who had seen Ben on Saturday evening to contact police. | And he appealed for anyone who had seen Ben on Saturday evening to contact police. |
| "Any strange goings-on that were out of the ordinary that anyone saw could be of help as the situation becomes very dire. Please get in touch." | "Any strange goings-on that were out of the ordinary that anyone saw could be of help as the situation becomes very dire. Please get in touch." |
| Mr Coles said the search also included police divers. | Mr Coles said the search also included police divers. |
| Mrs Thompson last spoke to her husband just after the game ended when he called to tell her he was heading to their favourite Cardiff pub. | Mrs Thompson last spoke to her husband just after the game ended when he called to tell her he was heading to their favourite Cardiff pub. |
| Mr Thompson is 5ft 9in (1.75m), with short brown hair and blue eyes. | Mr Thompson is 5ft 9in (1.75m), with short brown hair and blue eyes. |
| He was last seen wearing brown leather lace-up boots, jeans, and, possibly, a white shirt with blue thin stripes | He was last seen wearing brown leather lace-up boots, jeans, and, possibly, a white shirt with blue thin stripes |
| People with information who who may have seen Mr Thompson can contact the command room at Cardiff Bay Police Station. | People with information who who may have seen Mr Thompson can contact the command room at Cardiff Bay Police Station. |