Fears for Scot who lived in a cave on Rhodes
Search for missing expat Diane, 60
FEARS are growing for the safety of a Scottish woman who has gone missing on the Greek holiday island where she has lived for 15 years.
It is understood that Diane Davison had become homeless and lived for a time in a beach-side cave and in her car on Rhodes.
The 60-year-old was reported missing this week.
According to reports, the last sighting of the Scot was in Rhodes Town early last month, although the exact date is unclear.
Friends said that Miss Davison – who moved to the island from the Falkirk area of Stirlingshire in 2004 – lost her accommodation around three years ago after taking in abandoned animals.
Concerns have been expressed about her mental health.
On Tuesday, British officials on Rhodes confirmed that they had been informed of the missing expatriate’s disappearance.
A spokesman for the Consulate General said: ‘We are fully aware of the case and everything possible is being done to try and find out where she is.
‘Assistance has been offered to her in the past but this has not been taken up. There is obviously grave concern over her safety.’
Friends and Greek residents have made numerous appeals on social media in an attempt to trace her, with some claiming to have seen Miss Davison in a different region of the country earlier this month.
Greek authorities this week issued a fresh appeal for help in tracking her down.
The missing woman is described as around 5ft 6in tall, of average weight, with brown eyes.
Recently, it was reported that
Miss Davison had been living in her car in the resort of Faliraki, a popular holiday destination for young Britons.
The Scot previously worked in several tourist-related jobs before being made redundant during the Greek economic crisis of 2016.
She receives poverty aid of 160 euros per month from the Greek government and also relies on cash handouts given to her by locals and expats.
Sources suggested that she had been suffering from mental health issues and memory loss prior to her disappearance.
Earlier this week, a friend said: ‘We last saw her at the accident and emergency at the hospital on November 29.
‘We have not seen her since and used to see her most days walking round Faliraki.’
Another wrote on social media: ‘[I] was friends with Di for many years until a minor fallout which we resolved but do know she could be very difficult to help.
‘I know many tried but realised she was suffering some kind of mental health and wouldn’t accept most help.’
The friend added: ‘Do hope she can be found and helped, she is a good woman at heart and was a good friend to my wife and I and vice versa.’
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: ‘We are assisting the Greek authorities in their search for a British woman who has gone missing in Faliraki, Rhodes, and are in contact with her family.’