THE family of a missing Celtic fan said they are heartbroken to have their first Christmas without him.
Gary Watson Shearer has been missing for almost ten months after going missing in Lanzarote earlier this year.
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The Celtic fan arrived in Peurto del Carmen on the island to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
He is thought to have disappeared outside Bar 67 but was later seen lying unconscious in a doorway next door on CCTV around 1.30am on March 17.
The 53-year-old was reported missing after failing to show up for his flight home.
Gary’s sister Debbie told the Glasgow Times the last ten months have been a “nightmare”.
She said: “It’s been a living nightmare.
“It’s Gary’s birthday on December 21 – we’re just lost and heartbroken.
“I can’t even explain it – it’s just a living nightmare.
“It’s torture not having any answer or nothing.
“We can’t even function from day to day, it’s just Gary is constantly on our minds.”
Debbie said the family are dreading their first Christmas without him.
She said: “We’re heartbroken and we’re just dreading it but at the same time we need to do something to keep Gary, like the memory of him.
“So we’re having a closed gathering for close family on his birthday to celebrate Gary.
“That’s all we can do just now but me, my sisters, and mum and dad are all going over in March on the anniversary of him being missing.”
The last update in the investigation into Gary’s disappearance was back in August when police released CCTV footage from the day he went missing.
Gary’s family claim they have had no updates on the investigation despite their dad going over to meet with authorities.
And they said the communication from the home office has not been very good.
Debbie said: “They haven’t contacted us – it’s us that have to phone them on every occasion.
“They have never reached out to us just to give updates.
“See even if it was just to say, ‘we’re still no further forward’, just to assure us that they are doing something to help find Gary but we’re having to contact them.”
The family added they felt the Spanish authorities could have done more to help in his disappearance.
Gary was last seen wearing a Celtic top, shorts, and white Nike trainers with green and yellow flashes.
He is described as being around 5ft 3inch tall, has short hair and walks with a distinctive limp.
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A Foreign Office spokesperson told the Glasgow Times: “We are supporting the family of a British National missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Spanish Guardia have been approached for comment.