March 11, 2020 3.12 pm This story is over 48 months old

Family of missing Lincoln man petition German police to search river

He hasn’t been seen since leaving a nightclub in Germany
Gareth Hicks. Photo: The Lucie Blackman Trust

The brother of a Lincoln man living in Germany, who has been missing for nearly three weeks, is petitioning for police in Munich to act quicker and search the river Isar.

As previously reported, 32-year-old Gareth Hicks, who had also recently lived in Forfar in Scotland, is understood to have been with friends at Blitz Nightclub in Munich on the night of February 22.

Gareth left alone unexpectedly and the last known contact was a cryptic Facebook post, with a selfie captioned “modern slave” in the early hours of Sunday, February 23. He has not been seen since.

Gareth is described as six foot, two inches tall and of medium build, with short, dark, wavy hair and dark brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a burgundy crew neck-type jumper, blue jeans and trainers.

His brother Stuart Hicks held back the tears in an emotional video plea when he previously pleaded for help.

He has now set-up a petition to have the river Isar searched by the Polizei Bayern DE (Munich police), claiming the force would rather wait eight weeks for the body to potentially float to the surface on its own.

Ann Camus posted in a comment on Gareth’s Facebook that it is too dangerous for police to send divers in to the river as it is close to a power station.

Stuart Hicks holding a picture of his missing brother Gareth. Photo: Screenshot from Lucie Blackman Trust video

On the petition page, Stuart said: “This is a petition to have the river Isar searched by the police in Munich, who would rather wait eight weeks as Gareth Hicks’ body could potentially float to the surface on its own.

“We don’t believe he is in there and would like this ruled out asap. I don’t believe any one in our shoes would either.

“Please sign our petition to help put pressure on the Munich police to act. Help bring my brother home for Mother’s Day. Your help is very much appreciated.”

At the time of publication, the petition page on change.org has been signed by close to 400 people.

Gareth posted this photo on his Facebook page on February 23 with the caption “modern slave”.

A Facebook group was set up to aid with the search, which is also accompanied on social media with #findgareth.

Stuart has also created a donations page on Facebook as the family desperately need help funding ongoing travel expenses. At the time of publication, the page has raised £3,501.

Have you seen Gareth? Photo: Lucie Blackman Trust

The Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British nationals in crisis oversees, is urging anyone with information to come forward as Gareth is considered vulnerable and there are concerns for his welfare.

Anyone with information from the UK should call the trust’s central freephone information line on 0800 098 8485. Calls are free from landlines but may be charged from mobiles. From overseas you can call +44800 098 8485 but this will incur costs.

Alternatively, information can be emailed to [email protected] and will be treated in the strictest confidence.