A theft at a kebab shop marks the final known sighting of a British sailor, James Nunan, who disappeared over a month ago. James, 34, went missing after setting sail near Gran Canaria, Spain, with intentions to circumnavigate the globe. Investigators suspect he may have encountered a mishap at sea following a night out on land. The discovery of a theft helped authorities trace his last movements.
In a bid to aid the search efforts, James’s distraught family has traveled to Gran Canaria. Early on August 19, Spanish Civil Guard investigators were informed of a sighting when James reported his passport missing at a police station. The British sailor, who possessed an Irish passport, was last seen around 6:15 am seeking assistance from the police. Previously, he had anchored his yacht in Las Isletas, a neighborhood in Las Palmas, and visited Paddy’s Anchor, an Irish pub.
Referred to as Jemsie by his loved ones, James was later spotted at a kebab shop where his backpack was believed to have been stolen. He was also captured on a Facebook Live video walking among a crowd at a beach north-west of Las Palmas. His planned route included a journey from Gran Canaria to Lanzarote before embarking on a significant Atlantic Ocean crossing to Brazil.
Despite finding his boat approximately 100 miles from Las Palmas, the search for James continues. Authorities suspect he may have encountered an accident at sea, potentially falling from the yacht mast, as his life jacket and climbing equipment were missing. The hypothesis being pursued is that adverse weather conditions may have led to James’s unfortunate fate, although investigations are ongoing.
According to a source from the Civil Guard, all avenues are being explored, and the case remains open. James’s half-sister, Nikita Goddard, expressed the family’s emotional turmoil and exhaustion in the search, holding onto hope for his safe return.