Family pleads for resources in backpacker search

THE cousin of an Irish backpacker missing in a remote stretch of the Chilean-Argentinian border on Tuesday night said she was devastated by the lack of commitment from authorities.

Gráinne Lawlor said extra resources promised in the search for 28-year-old Ronan Lawlor had not arrived.

Mr Lawlor, from Durrow, Co Laois, was last seen on November 18 travelling by bus to the Torres del Paine national park in the Patagonian region. He has not been in contact with friends or family since.

“Today [Wednesday] marks the 31st day since we last heard from Ronan,” said Ms Lawlor.

“He’s an extremely resourceful person and, knowing him well, there is every chance that he is out there alive but perhaps injured. Every day that goes past diminishes this chance and we urgently need a full-scale search and rescue operation to bring him home to his parents, family and friends. I am begging the authorities to fulfil your promise and please bring in whatever resources you have at your disposal.”

The search is focusing on a 20sq km area on the Chilean side of the border.

Ms Lawlor said a number of senior Chilean officials on Tuesday night promised a significant scale-up of the search.

However, she said yesterday she was told additional resources amount to one sniffer dog and handler and one or two extra rescue personnel.

“We are devastated by this,” she said, from South America.

“There are currently approximately 16 people involved in the search. We urgently need at least 100 search and rescue personnel to comb this area thoroughly and find Ronan.”

On Tuesday night, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said a helicopter and extra sniffer dogs would join in operations yesterday.