Update 10.25am - Family looks to local athletes for help

Some 25 athletes have volunteered to join the search for missing German extreme sports enthusiast Mike Mansholt, following an urgent appeal made by his family asking them to help them look for the 17-year-old.

"We have to find my brother. He is here somewhere but he cannot contact us, we have to find him," brother Daniel Mansholt said.

Describing his brother as a "vibrant, adventurous and fit young man", Mr Mansholt said the family was asking for any form of help.

While thanking the police and Civil Protection Department for their efforts, he said that athletes were more familiar with areas the young man could have visited while in Malta and could look at areas which could not be accessed by everyone.

Athletes are expected to begin their search later today.

Mr Mansholt, who was travelling on his own and staying in Sliema, disappeared on Monday, when his family and friends last heard from him. He last made an appearance online at 10.11am on Monday and should have returned home near Hamburg five days later. However, he never turned up for his flight.

“It’s not like Mike to be out of contact with his friends and family. We are obviously very concerned about him and are keen to support the police in any way we can to help find him,” his brother, Daniel, said.

It is believed Mr Mansholt, who liked adventure, was mountain biking around the Rabat and the Dingli areas on the day he disappeared and there were reported sightings of a person fitting his description close to Dingli Cliffs.

Mike Mansholt, 17, disappeared on Monday.

It’s not like Mike to be out of contact with his friends and family.We are obviously very concerned about him and are keen to support the police in any way we can to help find him

The young man is 1.66 metres tall, slim, has short red hair and blue eyes. He was probably wearing a light blue shirt, grey Bermuda shorts or blue swim trunks and black Nikes with white stripes. He had just rented a black and blue Lombardo 270 mountain bike.

The police, Civil Protection Department, Armed Forces of Malta, family and friends have all been conducting searches. The official search has so far focused on Mellieħa and the area between Dingli and Żurrieq.

The family said it was “very grateful” to everyone for their help so far, urging the public to assist in any way they can to widen the search. “We are conducting our own search. We are appealing to anyone who can give some time to help: anyone who is familiar with areas popular among cyclists, ramblers, trail runners, trekkers or those who know the coast of Malta well, kayakers, boating enthusiasts,” the youth’s brother added.

The family has also opened a Facebook page to update the public about the search. One post read that Mr Mansholt had made plans to visit Gozo on July 19.

“There is still a slight chance that Mike took a ferry to Gozo. If you live on the island or if you are staying there right now, please keep looking for hints,” the post says.

The Facebook page is called Where is Mike – Wer hat Mikegesehen. The hashtags #missing #mike #missingmikemansholt and #mikemalta should be used when sharing posts on the social media. Those wishing to help in the search can call Andy Warrington on 9947 0377.