British man missing in Gran Canaria
The Guardia Civil has launched an investigation into the disappearance of British national James Nunan, whose boat was discovered drifting off the coast of Gran Canaria with his dog still onboard, but no sign of its owner.
Nunan, known as “Jemsie” to his family, is a 34-year-old builder from Reading who had been preparing for what he described as the adventure of his life, an attempt to sail around the world in his recently purchased yacht Kehaar.
He planned to cross the Atlantic and reach Brazil, after already visiting several European ports and stopping in Gibraltar and Lanzarote before arriving in Gran Canaria in August.
The last confirmed contact with his family was on 18th August, when James posted a video from El Confital and later visited Las Canteras beach in Las Palmas. That evening, he was reportedly seen in an Irish pub on Calle Sagasta before going to a kebab restaurant in La Puntilla, where his bank card was last used at 10:39 pm.
A week later, on 25th August, Maritime Rescue services alerted the Guardia Civil to a vessel drifting 50 miles south of Gran Canaria. The yacht was found empty apart from James’s small dog, Thumbelina, and some belongings were missing, including his passport. The boat was later towed to the port of Arguineguín, where the dog remains in the care of a local animal charity.
James’s sister, Nikita Goddard, has appealed for information through social media, urging anyone who may have seen her brother between 18th and 25th August to come forward, stressing that even the smallest details could prove vital. The family, who have not heard from him in over two weeks, are considering travelling to Gran Canaria to work directly with the authorities and continue the search.
In interviews with the British press, relatives revealed that James had been robbed of his passport and backpack on the night he vanished, adding further confusion to the case. Reports also indicate that his yacht emitted a distress alert before it was discovered adrift.
The British Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting the family and is in contact with Spanish authorities. Meanwhile, Essex Police, where his relatives live, have raised the case with Interpol in the hope of advancing the investigation.
Seventeen days after his disappearance, James’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the circumstances surrounding his case are still unclear. Authorities continue to consider all possibilities, from an accident at sea to the possibility that he may still be somewhere in Gran Canaria.
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