AN ACT of stunning generosity will help the family of missing Perthshire sailor Timmy MacColl head to Dubai in their continuing search for answers.
A supporter, who wishes to remain anonymous, has paid for wife Rachel and relatives to fly back to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the next few weeks.
They will join members of the special investigations branch of the Royal Navy who, after seven months, are to meet Dubai authorities for the first time.
The gesture was described as “fantastic” by the family, who said they had been “overwhelmed by the generosity”.
Wife Rachael, then pregnant with daughter Eriskay, last made the 4,500-mile journey to speak with police in Dubai in June last year.
They returned filled with confidence by the way in which investigations into Mr MacColl’s disappearance were progressing.
That initial positivity soon faded, however, and the family has faced long spells during which they have received little communication and few updates from authorities in both the UAE and UK.
More than 14,000 people have now signed a petition calling for an end to the “wall of silence” with which the family has been met.
They now hope the invitation to take part in talks with the Royal Navy and investigators will offer new hope that all involved continue to search for answers.
The 27-year-old leading seaman, who is originally from Killin, vanished suddenly while on shore leave in Port Rashid on May 27 last year.
His ship, the Westminster, was berthed there but returned home to Portsmouth without him following his sudden disappearance.
He was last seen by two fellow sailors, who reportedly helped him into a taxi outside a cafe but he never made it back to his ship.
Despite appeals that have been sent around the world, including a YouTube video created by the family and the Royal Navy, the heartbreaking wait for information continues.
A reward of £250,000 has been put up for information that leads to Mr MacColl being found.
Anyone who has information is asked to call Hampshire Police on 0845 0454545.
mmackay@thecourier.co.uk