Spain SPAIN - Matthew Chapman, 24, from Manchester, van found abandoned in Mossos d'Esquadra region, family reported missing, 30 Apr 2025

[MsMiniSleuth]

Spanish police are hunting a British man after his van was found abandoned at a viewpoint off the Mediterranean coast.

The 24-year-old was named locally last night as Matthew Chapman from Manchester, almost a month on from his family reporting him missing on April 30.

Earlier this week police launched a two-day search near the popular resort of Tossa de Mar involving a helicopter and drones before calling it off late on Thursday.

Mr Chapman had travelled to France on May 1 on the Eurotunnel and spent time in Portugal and Spain before his mobile phone signal petered out around 60 miles north of Barcelona.

A spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra regional police force confirmed a two-day search for the missing Brit was undertaken.

She added: 'It was a land, sea and air search which took place on Wednesday and Thursday.

'The investigation into the missing man's whereabouts is continuing.'

Officers are said to be keeping an open mind on what could have happened to Mr Chapman who according to Spanish reports had economic problems and was struggling to keep his car valet firm afloat.

Hunt for missing British man launched after his van was found in Spain

The 24-year-old was named locally last night as Matthew Chapman from Manchester, almost a month on from his family reporting him missing on April 30.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“We thought he was sleeping in his van, so that’s caused more angst,” said Jane.“We were in the hope that he was just touring Europe and that when he ran out of money he’d be a bit sheepish and get back in touch with his tail between his legs. That’s what we were hoping for.”

She added: “I haven’t had any correspondence from the Spanish police at all. I hope they won’t leave any stone unturned.”

Parents of missing Briton ‘had no word from police’ on search

Matthew Chapman, from Doncaster, has not been heard from since April 30

www.thetimes.com

According to the Spanish news site ElCaso.com, police sources said Mr Chapman drove his van to France on May 1 via the Eurotunnel.

Signals from his two mobile phones showed him in both Spain and Portugal between May 2 and May 4, before being lost on the Costa Brava where his van was found.

Catalan police linked the van to Mr Chapman’s missing person file on Interpol

Spanish police search for missing Briton after finding his abandoned van

Hunt for Matthew Chapman, 24, is launched on the Costa Brava using sniffer dogs and drones

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Beekarina]

How awful.

I can certainly see how a young person who had been running a business since 18 may have felt pressure or just done something spontaneous and out of character and decided to up and have an adventure, but it seems like the van was used to support himself back home as well? Really troubling it was found abandoned. That doesn't seem right at all.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Missing Brit tourist Matthew Chapman's last movements from Manchester before vanishing in Catalonia​

Matthew Chapman, 24, was reported missing almost a month ago after he set off from Manchester in a van​

Matthew Chapman, 24, was reported missing almost a month ago after he set off from Manchester in a van
The last moments of a British tourist's disappearance almost a month ago have been mapped before he vanished in Catalonia

Matthew Chapman, 24, originally from Doncaster, was reported missing on April 30 after he took off from Manchester in a van, which was later found abandoned near Tossa de Mar - 60 miles north of Barcelona.

A two-day search and rescue effort was launched to find him, involving drones and a helicopter, but it was called off late on Thursday after they were unable to find him, the Mirror reports.

His parents, Jane and Andrew Chapman, initially believed their son was sleeping in his van. Jane said: "We thought he was sleeping in his van, so that's caused more angst.

"We were in the hope that he was just touring Europe and that when he ran out of money, he'd be a bit sheepish and get back in touch with his tail between his legs. That's what we were hoping for."

Missing British tourist's last movements before vanishing in Catalonia

Matthew Chapman, 24, was reported missing almost a month ago after he set off from Manchester in a van

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[Wurzel]

Some points raised in this El Caso article that have not been reported in the British media.

De Manchester a Catalunya: así fue la ruta de Matthew hasta desaparecer misteriosamente en Tossa de Mar

Matthew Chapman, el chico británico de 24 años desaparecido misteriosamente en Tossa de Mar, había venido en furgoneta desde el Reino Unido cruzando el

elcaso.elnacional.cat

1. Matthew was last seen by his family around 17:00 on 30 April, so the same day he was reported missing.

2. Investigators in the UK tracked his movements to Catalonia.

3. Interpol alerted the Catalonia regional police (Mossos) on 21 May.

4. Matthew had a history of episodes of mental health, during which he had also travelled to Portugal.

5. Under stressful circumstances, Matthew self harmed.

If the El Caso reporting is accurate, then:

A. The family were concerned enough to report him missing within a few hours of last seeing him.

B. His mental health and self harming issues sadly seem to be at odds with his mother's description that " ....... he's always had a positive outlook on things."

Two things that came to mind:

1. If he was reported missing on 30 April, then was he stopped at Folkstone on 1 May?

2. Driving Manchester to Folkstone, Calais to Spanish border, Spain to Portuguese border, Portugal to Catalonia - that is thousands of miles/kms to cover between evening of 30 April and 4 May. No one to share the driving with, that would have been many hours behind the wheel with very little rest

 

[Officer Dibble]

Some points raised in this El Caso article that have not been reported in the British media.

De Manchester a Catalunya: así fue la ruta de Matthew hasta desaparecer misteriosamente en Tossa de Mar

Matthew Chapman, el chico británico de 24 años desaparecido misteriosamente en Tossa de Mar, había venido en furgoneta desde el Reino Unido cruzando el

elcaso.elnacional.cat

1. Matthew was last seen by his family around 17:00 on 30 April, so the same day he was reported missing.

2. Investigators in the UK tracked his movements to Catalonia.

3. Interpol alerted the Catalonia regional police (Mossos) on 21 May.

4. Matthew had a history of episodes of mental health, during which he had also travelled to Portugal.

5. Under stressful circumstances, Matthew self harmed.

If the El Caso reporting is accurate, then:

A. The family were concerned enough to report him missing within a few hours of last seeing him.

B. His mental health and self harming issues sadly seem to be at odds with his mother's description that " ....... he's always had a positive outlook on things."

Two things that came to mind:

1. If he was reported missing on 30 April, then was he stopped at Folkstone on 1 May?

2. Driving Manchester to Folkstone, Calais to Spanish border, Spain to Portuguese border, Portugal to Catalonia - that is thousands of miles/kms to cover between evening of 30 April and 4 May. No one to share the driving with, that would have been many hours behind the wheel with very little rest

Thanks for sharing this.