THE father of a man from Trowbridge who went missing on the Spanish island of Ibiza three years ago has revealed police have stopped contacting him.
Bus driver Mark Garland says he hasn’t heard from the Spanish authorities now for several months.
His elder son Ben Garland, 24, went missing on January 21, 2020 near Portinatx on the northern coast of Ibiza after going out to video film the surf in the aftermath of Storm Gloria.
Mark took the decision to be informed every time a discovery is made - meaning he is often left with an agonising wait for identification.
Ben had ventured out on his Harley Davidson 1200cc Sportster motorcycle which was found parked up on the road above the shore.
It was assumed that Ben was swept out to sea by a large wave but his body has never been found; only his jacket, his identity tags and his watch.
“I’ve heard nothing at all. They don’t contact me at all now,” said Mr Garland, 58, of Trowbridge. “I’ve emailed them a couple of times and had no response.
“We haven’t given up hope that he will be found but it’s getting less and less likely. After ten years, I can apply for a presumption of death certificate.”
In Ben’s memory, Mr Garland and his family and friends launched the Ride to the Tide Ben Garland Memorial Run from Trowbridge to Poole in Dorset.
Last year’s second annual event raised £1,650 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Poole.
This year’s third annual run is being held on Saturday, August, starting from Trowbridge Rugby Football Club’s car park at Hilperton at 11am.
Mr Garland is hoping to attract around 150 motorcyclists of all abilities to join the 51-mile ride to Poole Quay.
Last year, bikers from all over Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset joined together on the ‘Ride to the Tide’ in memory of Ben.
Once again, they will be supported this year by the RNLI’s West Wiltshire fundraising group, who will be there to wave them off.
Ben’s bike, which was brought home from Ibiza, is now owned by one of his best friends, Tom Eggleton.
Mr Garland has chosen to raise money for the RNLI as Spanish volunteer coastguards and emergency services searched extensively for Ben after he went missing.
To get involved please click here.
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