Friends of British holidaymaker missing in Madeira pray for a ‘Christmas miracle’: Hopes wane as four-day hunt for runner, 52, last seen on jog with his partner fails to yield breakthrough
- Darren Kay, a keen mountain and fell runner, went missing during a run Sunday
- A four-day land and sea search from local emergency services was unsuccessful
- His family have now flown to Calheta to help look for the missing 52-year-old
Friends and colleagues of a British holidaymaker missing in Madeira say they are hoping for a ‘Christmas miracle’ after a four-day search for the keen athlete failed to yield any clues to his whereabouts.
Service technician Darren Kay, who has represented Britain in mountain and fell running competitions, was last seen on Sunday afternoon near the town of Calheta after going out for a run with his partner.
Mr Kay, from Sedbergh in Cumbria, told her he would carry on for another half-hour after she stopped but never returned to their holiday Airbnb.
A land and sea search involving local firefighters and police, which has been hampered by bad weather, started on Sunday but as of Wednesday night had failed to shed any light on what might have happened.
The couple were reportedly completing a two-hour course together near the town when Darren told Victoria he would run on his own for 30 minutes but never returned
The running route where Darren disappeared was described as ‘dangerous’
His family have now flown to the island to help look for the missing 52-year-old, who last year won the British and English fell running championships in the V50 category.
Local reports said Mr Kay, who competes with Calder Valley Fell Runners Club based in the Hebden Bridge area of Halifax, said he had been running a route between Faja do Mar and Madalena do Mar which has been described as ‘dangerous’ in places by visitors who have walked it.
The search resumed early today but only with firefighters from Calheta after police halted their work. It is expected to start again on Thursday at first light, weather permitting.
A spokesman for the PSP police told local press this morning: ‘From Sunday to the present day all the search efforts have proved unsuccessful and it has not been possible to locate the missing man.
‘The land searches were largely complicated by the climatic conditions which were often unfavourable.’
Appearing to suggest there were no police plans at present to actively continue working alongside firefighters, he added: ‘The PSP is available to cooperate with other civil protection agents if circumstances determine so or new information pointing to the possible location of the missing person arises.’
Local reports said Mr Kay, who competes with Calder Valley Fell Runners Club based in the Hebden Bridge area of Halifax, said he had been running a route between Faja do Mar and Madalena do Mar which has been described as ‘dangerous’ in places by visitors who have walked it
Darren Kay, 52, was staying in Calheta, on the Southwest coast of the tiny Portuguese archipelago, in the North Atlantic Ocean, with his partner Victoria when he disappeared
Mr Kay’s employers J & E Hall International said in a social media appeal it asked people to share: ‘We’re reaching out to all our business colleagues and friends.
‘Darren Kay, service technician from our Manchester service centre has gone missing whilst on holiday in Madeira.
‘Darren is an experienced fell runner and was out running on Sunday afternoon near the town of Calheta but never returned from his run.
‘Please share in the hope anyone has information that might help.’
Colleague Tess Elm added: ‘As a member of the JE Hall team at the Manchester branch we are devastated by this news and are hoping for a Christmas miracle.
‘We would all be in Madeira searching if it were possible.
‘Thinking of Darren’s family and friends and in particular his brother Andy Kay who works at the Manchester branch and has gone out to help find him.
‘At this deeply worrying time we are all hoping for good news.’
Madeira newspaper Diario de Noticias said it had been told by reliable sources Mr Kay and his partner were on their sixth visit to the island.
One of the growing fears of the search teams early on was said to have been the possibility the missing man could have been swept into the sea by a giant wave.
. Refrigerator engineer Darren, from Sedbergh in Cumbria, previously represented England in the prestigious Snowdon International Mountain race
In the past year and a half before Mr Kay went missing, three tourists disappeared on the island of Madeira and have yet to be found.
They have been named as Polish national Michael Kozek and Frenchman Benoit Way, both 35, and German Jascha Hardenberg, 28.
The missing Brit’s parents are believed to have travelled to Madeira on Monday.
Referring to his feats as a runner on his Linkedin page, Mr Kay wrote: ‘I consider myself to be a very fit and active person who trains and competes at national level in my chosen sporting area.
‘I have represented Greater Manchester in the inter counties mountain race for several years winning several gold medals and also represented England in the prestigious Snowdon International mountain race. In 2011
‘I won the bronze medal overall in the British open/elite class which comprises of races in the four countries of Great Britain. In 2015 myself and my club/team won the elite/open and Vet40 categories in both the British and English Fell running championships.
‘In 2021 I won the British and English fell running championships in the V50 category as I’m getting on a bit.’
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