‘We’re desperate– It feels like John has been forgotten’
ENJOYING a beer in the Greek sunshine, this is the last picture taken of John Tossell before he went missing.
The following morning, June 17, taking just €10 and a bottle of water, he told his partner, Gillian Griffiths, he wanted to visit the masts on the mountains near their holiday hotel and set off on a walk.
Mrs Griffiths headed to the pool with a book to wait for him to come back.
But he never returned.
The couple, who have been together for 19 years, were on a last-minute trip to Zante in Greece and arrived at the holiday resort on June 14.
They spent that first weekend on the island doing what most tourists do – sitting by the pool, reading and
visiting local restaurants for dinner.
Pictures taken on the Sunday evening, before Mr Tossell went missing, show both of them happy and relaxed.
But exactly 11 weeks after Mr Tossell vanished, Mrs Griffiths, who returned alone to the couples’ home in Kenfig, is still desperately waiting on news on John’s whereabouts.
Speaking to Wales on Sunday, she told how their two West Highland terriers still wait at the door for him to come home, as do his grandchildren.
Mr Tossell, 73, is a keen walker and an avid history fan, Mrs Griffiths said.
“Every holiday we went on, John went walking as he was very fit, active and loved history,” she said.
“On Monday morning, he said he was going for a walk, maybe only 30 minutes or perhaps longer, but not to worry.
“He said to take my bathers and book to the pool and that he would see me later.
“He took €10 and a bottle of water and left at around 9.30am.”
That was the last time Mrs Griffiths would see her partner. After he
failed to return, she raised the alarm and a full-scale search was conducted by the Greek police.
Mr Tossell was last seen heading towards the monastery on Mount Skopos near the village of Argassi.
Ten weeks have now passed, with two major searches of the island, yet Mr Tossell has not been found or seen anywhere.
“It’s like he disappeared off the face of Zante and we have to conclude it could be foul play,” added Mrs Griffiths. “We just desperately want John found as soon as possible.”
Mrs Griffiths feels helpless. “We are getting desperate now,” she said.
“It feels like to us, as a family, that he has been forgotten.
“It’s like we are at a dead end. We have got nowhere to turn now.
“My worry is the case will be closed down at the end of the season, when the island closes down for the winter in October.”
As the summer holiday season draws to a close, Mrs Griffiths is afraid the search for Mr Tossell will be made harder as flights are stopped and hotels close for winter.
The case is being dealt with by the Greek judicial authorities, who are deciding if they believe John’s disappearance is a criminal matter or not.
The waiting is agony for Mrs Griffiths.
“It feels like no-one is doing anything, no-one is helping us at all,” she said.
Mrs Griffiths made a renewed appeal to South Wales Police to send one of their officers to Greece to help with the investigation.
But the Greek police have primacy of the case and police officers from the UK would have to be invited by the country where the person went missing.
A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: “South Wales Police is assisting Greek authorities with their investigation into the disappearance of a Bridgend man who went missing in Greece.
“John Tossell, aged 73, was reported as missing to Greek police while on holiday in Argassi, Zante, on June 17, 2019.
“South Wales Police officers are providing support to Mr Tossell’s family.”
It is of little comfort to Mrs Griffiths, where every day is a delay and an opportunity missed to continue the search.
She said: “The Greek police are stalling.
“We’ve had to wait all these weeks. We’re afraid something criminal could have happened for John to have disappeared.
“I understand they have to be diplomatic and follow protocol, but why can’t something be done?
“I have nowhere else to turn.” Volunteers from the Western Beacons Mountain Rescue team, led by Gareth Hopkins, a relation to Mrs Griffiths, went to Zante to conduct their own search for Mr Tossell after £7,000 was raised on a Go Fund Me Page.
But their search of the mountainous terrain was also called off after they too failed to find him.
Mrs Griffiths had no choice but to return to the family home in Kenfig, where she is being supported by family and friends.
“It was just crucifying being there on the island,” she said.
“I had to come home, the dogs are here, my family are here. There are things I can do here.
“I’ve written to my MP, the Foreign Office and Interpol, the UK Government, but I can’t seem to get anywhere.
“You can’t just disappear on an island which is 12 miles wide and 25 miles long,” she said.
The couple were “very very happy” and led a lovely life with their two dogs, added Mrs Griffiths.
An FCO spokesperson said: “We are assisting the family of a British man who has been reported missing on Zante.
“Our staff are in regular contact with them, as well as the Greek authorities responsible for searching for him.”