'A final text message and then nothing'...daughter's despair as father goes missing on holiday

The daughter of a Londoner who has been been missing for five days after going on a trek in northern Italy today spoke of her devastation, asking: “Where on earth is he?”.

Felix Marr, 64, from Woodford, east London was on holiday with his wife, Shirley, in Lake Garda when he told her he was going for hike up La Rocca mountain last Friday afternoon.

He sent her a text message four hours later to say he was on his way down.

But the retired systems analyst did not return and there has been no sign of him since.

Up to 70 mountain rescue volunteers and police have been scouring the mountain and his daughter, Angie, has flown from London to Italy to help the search, putting up posters and appealing to tourists on the internet.

Today the 32-year-old illustrator told Evening Standard of her growing desperation over the lack of any breakthrough in the hunt.

She said: “My parents came to Lake Garda for a holiday, they’ve been here six years ago and loved it so much. My dad loves Italian culture, loves singing, the opera.

“I was in England and found out he was missing on Friday. I really thought they would find him very soon. My priority was to keep my mum calm, saying I’m sure they’ll find him. The next day there was no news - that’s just really weird.

“He was carrying a bright blue bag and walking sticks. None of these things have been found. I can’t understand how he’s just disappeared.”

The mountain is popular with hikers from England, Germany and other European countries and his family are appealing for anyone who saw Mr Marr on the mountain in the four hours between him leaving his hotel, at 3pm, and texting his wife shortly before their 7.30pm dinner date to get in touch.

Police have confirmed his last text was sent from the mountain.

Concerned he may have been mugged or kidnapped, the family have been appealing to Interpol for information about whether his bank cards have been used since he went missing - but have had no news back.

“If Interpol say there’s no bank transactions on his card then we can definitely concentrate on the mountain. We can’t be certain he’s on the mountain, maybe he’s not.