Found Deceased Germany - Liam Colgan, 29, Scottish tourist, Hamburg, 10 Feb 2018

[Jareau]

The name "Reeperbahn" comes from the old German word Reep meaning "heavy rope". In the 18th century, heavy hempen ropes were produced here for sailing ships in the Hamburg harbor. Reeperbahn means „Rope Walk“.

OT: I'm always stupidly excited to see another German-speaking person on here! Hello from your Southern neighbour (Switzerland :crazy: ).

Anyway, do we know if anyone saw Liam leave the bar? I know his friends didn't, but other patrons, bartender, doorman, security personell, etc. Did he go outside for a smoke (Germany has no smoking bars too, right?), to cool down? I just feel like if he had planned to go somewhere (to continue drinking, to meet new people iykwim, to buy something), he would have told someone?

I know there was a thing about cameras on the Reeperbahn a few years ago, where they removed them, but I don't know about the current situation, and I could imagine that bars and clubs probably have private ones, and if they do, one of them had to catch him.

I think him not telling anyone that he was leaving bothers me the most, if he left on his own free will. He was in a strange country with his friends... most people would probably tell someone if they were leaving to go somewhere else. They did say he was pretty drunk though.

I hope the building has been searched, looks like there are either apartments or hotel rooms (of whichever kind) on the floors above the bar. I also hope they have talked to all his friends and ruled them all out as POIs.

 

[eucalyptuz]

Shades of Corrie McKeague here

Oh the plus side he still had a phone with power at 4:30 am when his ‘what’s app’ message got thru.
Does anybody know where their hotel was?
Does somebody local recognize the “Carnoustie” mentioned in the last text?

 

[eucalyptuz]

Answering my own question here about “Carnoustie”...
Maybe he was not referring to a place but a condition:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnoustie_effect
It’s from a golfing and means to be playing under par or not as well as expected although apparently it’s made its way in everyday language.

Maybe in Liam’s case he was saying he wasn’t keeping up with the pace of the partying...

 

[Jareau]

Shades of Corrie McKeague here

Oh the plus side he still had a phone with power at 4:30 am when his ‘what’s app’ message got thru.
Does anybody know where their hotel was?
Does somebody local recognize the “Carnoustie” mentioned in the last text?

Carnoustie is a town in Scotland, on the coast between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, although not close to Inverness, where he's from. The message was written very early Friday morning, so perhaps he was on the way to the airport (Aberdeen? Edinburgh? Inverness does have one too though, right, local Scotland people?). Probably has nothing to do with his disappearance Friday night/early Saturday morning.

 

[eucalyptuz]

Carnoustie is a town in Scotland, on the coast between Aberdeen and Edinburgh, although not close to Inverness, where he's from. The message was written very early Friday morning, so perhaps he was on the way to the airport (Aberdeen? Edinburgh? Inverness does have one too though, right, local Scotland people?). Probably has nothing to do with his disappearance Friday night/early Saturday morning.

Yes, I knew it was a Scottish location but was trying to figure out why it was in the message, because if they were referring to heading back home to Scotland then surely he would have been missed at the airport or on the plane. I guess I assumed they were staying the night in Hamburg?!?

 

[Jareau]

Yes, I knew it was a Scottish location but was trying to figure out why it was in the message, because if they were referring to heading back home to Scotland then surely he would have been missed at the airport or on the plane. I guess I assumed they were staying the night in Hamburg?!?

No, you're right, but if you look at the message, it was sent very early on Friday morning, that would have been before they even got to Germany. That's why I said it probably has nothing to do with the disappearance. It's kind of misleading that they released it. Unless I'm reading this completely wrong, which is entirely possible. But I'm sure I read somewhere that they got to Germany on that Friday, so it's possible that very early that day, he was still in Scotland. Why that particular town, I have no idea.

 

[dotr]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/ne...am-colgan-hamburg-police-search-river-canals/

 

[dotr]

https://stv.tv/news/north/1408234-police-search-canals-and-rivers-in-hunt-for-missing-man/

Police in Germany have started searching rivers and canals in a bid to find a Scotsman who is missing in Hamburg.

Officers also say that they have been using search dogs and constantly checking with local hospitals and taxi companies in a bid to trace Liam Colgan who has been missing since the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mr Wundrack said: "We are looking into all possibilities.

"It is not normal for people to disappear in Hamburg but the fact that Mr Colgan had been drinking and doesn't know his way about the city makes this a difficult situation.

 

[cybervampira]

OT: I'm always stupidly excited to see another German-speaking person on here! Hello from your Southern neighbour (Switzerland :crazy: ).

Anyway, do we know if anyone saw Liam leave the bar? I know his friends didn't, but other patrons, bartender, doorman, security personell, etc. Did he go outside for a smoke (Germany has no smoking bars too, right?), to cool down? I just feel like if he had planned to go somewhere (to continue drinking, to meet new people iykwim, to buy something), he would have told someone?

I know there was a thing about cameras on the Reeperbahn a few years ago, where they removed them, but I don't know about the current situation, and I could imagine that bars and clubs probably have private ones, and if they do, one of them had to catch him.

I think him not telling anyone that he was leaving bothers me the most, if he left on his own free will. He was in a strange country with his friends... most people would probably tell someone if they were leaving to go somewhere else. They did say he was pretty drunk though.

I hope the building has been searched, looks like there are either apartments or hotel rooms (of whichever kind) on the floors above the bar. I also hope they have talked to all his friends and ruled them all out as POIs.

Grüezi to Switzerland! <3

My understanding is that Liam vanished into thin air. Nobody saw him leaving the place. The Veermaster is a very crowded and noisy place, especially on weekends. It’s a little bit like „Oktoberfest“ with a northern, maritime touch. If he went out for a cigarette, it‘s likely nobody noticed it.

Germany mostly has non-smoking bars/restaurants, a few have separate rooms for smokers or are smokers (members) only. Police just started their official investigation, so I‘m sure they will check out any available cctv:
https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/6337/3866214

The hostel they stayed in is located at Spaldingstrasse, not really nearby.

Anything could have happened, he could have been ripped off by someone or he went out and didn‘t find his way back. It was freezing cold that night and I just hope he didn‘t walk towards the piers and ended up in the river. There are a lot of porters trying to encourage tourists to come to the strip club but they usually don‘t kill them and just want them to spend money. ;-)

Let‘s hope for the best!

 

[cybervampira]

No, you're right, but if you look at the message, it was sent very early on Friday morning, that would have been before they even got to Germany. That's why I said it probably has nothing to do with the disappearance. It's kind of misleading that they released it. Unless I'm reading this completely wrong, which is entirely possible. But I'm sure I read somewhere that they got to Germany on that Friday, so it's possible that very early that day, he was still in Scotland. Why that particular town, I have no idea.

I think you got it right and it was sent before they arrived in Hamburg. The WhatsApp message also implicates they were going to play football the next day (Saturday). When Liam didn‘t appear, they got really worried.

 

[cybervampira]

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland can confirm that we are in contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding this and are assisting with supporting the family in Scotland.

“We will of course assist our colleagues in Hamburg if their inquiry necessitates it.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/ne...am-colgan-hamburg-police-search-river-canals/

 

[Elainera]

Oh my we have seen it here so many times, young guy drunk, and water nearby I'm fearing the worst has happened. In the cold water hypothermia would start very very fast. Glad LE has immediately started searching the river.

OT: I'm always stupidly excited to see another German-speaking person on here! Hello from your Southern neighbour (Switzerland :crazy: ).

(Totally OT, I'm German too! :seeya: Nice to have so many German speakers in this thread.)

 

[ttcRider]

Not to be funny or make light of any of this but it should be mandatory for all men who are going out drinking near bodies of water to wear life preservers. It is just so weird how many are found in water. :thinking:

 

[Scotland888]

Hi,I am from inverness,where Liam is from,I was a couple of years above him in school,his friends have been appearing on the news over the last couple of days,they returned to the pub that they were at last and the bartenders confirmed Liam left on his own only a few minutes before the rest of the group left.As for the Carnoustie part,it appears to me that a friend/family member who lives in Carnoustie was meeting the rest of the group at the airport.Most of the group are originally from inverness but not all currently live in inverness,

 

[dotr]

Hi,I am from inverness,where Liam is from,I was a couple of years above him in school,his friends have been appearing on the news over the last couple of days,they returned to the pub that they were at last and the bartenders confirmed Liam left on his own only a few minutes before the rest of the group left.As for the Carnoustie part,it appears to me that a friend/family member who lives in Carnoustie was meeting the rest of the group at the airport.Most of the group are originally from inverness but not all currently live in inverness,

Welcome to Ws Scotland888!
:Welcome1:

 

[Scotland888]

Liam&#8217;s phone ran out of battery earlier in the evening so he had no power to his phone when he went missing

 

[Elainera]

Was it mentioned whether his cell phone is dead?

ETA: Scotland888 and I posted at the same time.

Welcome to WS!

 

[gregjrichards]

Hi,I am from inverness,where Liam is from,I was a couple of years above him in school,his friends have been appearing on the news over the last couple of days,they returned to the pub that they were at last and the bartenders confirmed Liam left on his own only a few minutes before the rest of the group left.As for the Carnoustie part,it appears to me that a friend/family member who lives in Carnoustie was meeting the rest of the group at the airport.Most of the group are originally from inverness but not all currently live in inverness,

Welcome to Websleuths Scotland888! Thank you for joining the thread.

 

[Scotland888]

Yes,his friends have said on the news his phone ran out off battery earlier in the evening

 

[Elainera]

Yes,his friends have said on the news his phone ran out off battery earlier in the evening

Thank you! I saw your other post too late. Thank you for sharing here.