A pair of distraught boys are begging Santa to bring their dad home after he went missing on holiday in Benidorm – just days before flying home for Christmas. John Hardy was reported missing on Wednesday [Dec 18] when he missed his flight home to spend the festive season with his two sons, 13 and six. The 37-year-old had reportedly been holidaying at a friend’s home in Alicante, Spain, until he left to meet friends in Benidorm.
He has not been seen or heard from since and his ‘worried sick’ sister Courtney George is desperate for information. She says the unemployed dad from Belfast, Northern Ireland, wouldn’t even go 48 hours without speaking to her but he’s not contacted her in nine days.
The pharmacy assistant, who had planned to welcome John for Christmas dinner, says ‘all his kids want for Christmas is for him to come home’. Courtney, whose GoFundMe has more than £8,900 of donations, says she feels like ‘setting her tree on fire and running away from this nightmare’.
John Hardy, 37, who has gone missing on holiday in Benidorm
(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
Courtney, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, said: “I have to have Christmas for my own kids but I would happily set my tree on fire and run away from this nightmare. We’ve lost a family member recently and he was really upset and thought he needed a holiday.
“His youngest is very confused and the 13-year-old has seen everything on social media and is very distressed. They love their daddy. All they want for Christmas is their dad to come home. I haven’t eaten in five days and have been physically sick because it’s been nine days without contact. My brother would never go two days without speaking to me.
“He was meant to be coming to my house for Christmas dinner and we had our plans made. John is missing from Alicante to Benidorm so we need a search party out there to look for him.
John Hardy’s worried sister Courtney George has set up a GoFundMe page to help bring him home
(Image: Kennedy News and Media)
“It’s family time so nobody will be looking for our family when they want to spend it with their own. It’s very urgent because places close and people go on holiday. We already know that we won’t have John for Christmas.”
Mum-of-two Courtney says she can’t believe the amazing support through the GoFundMe from both Belfast and further afield. To donate to her GoFundMe, follow the link here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ktkbat-get-john-home
A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland received a report on Wednesday, 18th December that a 37-year-old man from Belfast, holidaying in Spain, was believed to be missing. Enquiries are ongoing in conjunction with our international policing partners.”