Mum of Brit, 25, who vanished in Sardinia a year ago says she's living through ‘never-ending nightmare'

Scottish Sun

14 hours ago

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THE mother of a Brit man who went missing in Sardinia a year ago has said she's been "broken" since his disappearance.
Michael Frison suddenly vanished on the Italian island, where he had just arrived to do volunteer work on a farm, in July 2024.
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Michael was reported missing in Sardinia
Credit: Facebook
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He vanished on 13 July 2024, just the day after he arrived on the Mediterranean island
Credit: Facebook/@Cristina Pittalis
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A year on from his disappearance, Michael's mother Cristina Pittalis has told Sky News of her anguish over what happened to him.
"I'm trying not to lose my mind," she said as she recounted the last time she heard his voice.
"He was in a rush but absolutely clear in his speech, I didn't detect any confusion in his state of mind."
Michael, 26, vanished on 13 July 2024, just the day after he arrived on the Mediterranean island.
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Cristina, who is from Somerset, told the broadcaster: "Human beings do not disappear from the face of earth without leaving traces unless … something extremely bad happened to them."
Her son had reportedly gone for a walk, and returned in a confused state and showing signs of heatstroke.
After this, he went for a second walk - from which he never returned.
His clothes and trainers were later found close by.
Michael's mum told Sky News is was "extremely unlikely" he would suffer heatstroke as he had lived on the island before.
It would also be "completely out of character" to wander off barefoot and leave his belongings behind, she added.
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She has now moved to Sardinia along with her other son, 11, in an attempt to look for Michael.
Cristina, who is originally from Sassari in the island's northwest, said she is "extremely worried because there are no traces of Michael".
Although a local investigation into his whereabouts is ongoing, Michael's mum wants Interpol to step in to help with the search.
"It's a never-ending nightmare," she said. "There's no real accountability... I am here and I am broken."
Cristina said that "during the past 12 months, the area was constantly searched, through woodland, caves, mountains" - but nothing was found.
She is also calling for a woman from Jersey who is believed to have been with Michael in the days leading up to his disappearance to come forward with any available information.
One of her friends previously set up a GoFundMe to help with the search that raised more than £10,000.
The money was aimed at supporting various costs including travel, legal fees and awareness campaigns.
Cristina further told Sky of the impact Michael's disappearance has had on his younger half-brother Emanuele.
Emanuele's father died back in 2017.
"He's devastated," she said. "The three of us were extremely close, the two of them, they used to do everything together."
She added that for him "it's horrible, he lost his father and now he lost his brother."
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Michael's mum told Sky News is was "extremely unlikely" he would suffer heatstroke as he had lived on the island before
Credit: Facebook/@Cristina Pittalis