Family of missing sailor say they have found burnt remains of iPad and phone

The family of a sailor who vanished during a round-the-world voyage said they have discovered the burnt remains of an iPad and phone.

James ‘Jemsie’ Nunan from Colchester, Essex, has been missing since August this year after he vanished on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria.

His family, who have spent the past 14 weeks searching for answers, say they have found the burnt outer shells of an iPad, a phone and an unscrewed GPS aerial.

They say no full forensic investigation of the boat has been carried out.

Jemsie’s last known location is in the island’s capital, Las Palmas, on August 19, where he was traced to a kebab shop with his Irish passport around his neck.

CCTV also captured him at a police station on the same day, reporting his passport lost.

Police found his boat 100 miles from his last known location.

Jemsie, described as ‘happy and adventurous’ by his half-sister, turned 35 years old on Friday, as his family renewed their appeal for answers.

The family claims to have received ‘contradictory’ statements from Essex Police and the Guardia Civil (Spanish police force), including an incomplete investigation of Jemsie’s vessel.

Jemsie, along with his Jack Russel terrier, Thumbelina, had been planning on heading to Lanzarote from Gran Canaria before travelling by boat to Brazil.

On August 25, Thumbelina was found well on the boat, but there was no sign of Jemsie.

However, Jemsie’s family said authorities initially claimed the dog was not found on board the vessel, but a week later said she had.

They also claim there is still no confirmed account of the dog’s whereabouts between when the boat was towed and her being handed into a shelter.

The dog’s return to Jemsie’s family was prolonged because she was given a new Spanish microchip, despite having a British one.

Jemsie’s family also said a Pan Pan distress call – an urgency signal used for non-life-threatening emergencies – was made on August 24.

Although this was initially confirmed by Guardia Civil and Essex Police, the family claims the Spanish police force has now stated no call was ever made and the source was never established.

In a statement, the family also said: ‘CCTV footage from a kebab shop – where Jemsie was last seen – has reportedly been dismissed by authorities, on the grounds that he later attended a police station to report his passport missing.

‘However, we have received confirmation that he was targeted at the kebab shop and that his backpack was stolen there.

‘Witnesses at the kebab shop have confirmed this however, Guardia Civil would not speak to these witnesses.’

Jemsie’s family says they were also advised not to contact the media and have been asked to pay taxes for the boat being held at a maritime police compound.

Essex Police and Guardia Civil have been contacted for comment.

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