Hunt For Missing Expat Teenager Includes Police Helicopter As Fears Grow

Kieran O’Brien has been missing for a week and was last seen in Andalusia’s Alhaurin del Grande on the evening of April 20.

Kieran was living with his parents in the popular hillside expat destination near Malaga when he went missing after a minor family argument. His now distraught parents thought he’d simply gone for a run in the woods in order to cool down, but the teenager hasn’t been seen since. When he failed to return home, his parents thought he’d have gone to a friend’s house for the night and would be back the following morning.

When he hadn’t returned by Sunday, they’d called him but his phone was switched off, and further phone calls to his friends revealed no-one had seen or been in contact with him for two days. A family friend told local media his parents were now frantic with worry, and described Kieran as a confident young teenager who loves sports and running. She added he’s popular in the expat community and has a lot of friends.

Once the police became involved, Kieran’s phone was tracked, and a Guardia Civil police helicopter has been brought in help with the search. A group of family friends have now organised a search party for Saturday morning and are urging all locals and expats to join in the hope of locating the missing teenager. To date, the police helicopter has covered the mountainous area behind the town without any luck, and will continue the search for as long as it takes.

The Spanish missing persons agency Asociacion Sosdesaparecidos has circulated details of the missing 17-year old across the entire country, mentioning he was wearing grey sweat pants, trainers and a black hoodie when he was last seen a week ago.