Searches for a missing teenager who vanished over two weeks ago in freezing -9C conditions have now been called off.
Aleksandr Benga was last seen near the water wheel on the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway, Lewis, at around 8.45am on Monday, November 18. Police issued an urgent appeal to trace the 16-year-old and coastguard crews for the Western Isles, Skye, and Lochaber confirmed called in.
Officers urged members of the public to stay vigilant and check their outbuildings after freezing temperatures gripped Scotland, dropping as low as -9C in the Western Isles. Despite extensive enquiries Aleksandr remains a missing person – and sadly police have now confirmed that physical searches have concluded.
Inspector Euan Cowan said: “Aleksandr Benga, 16, was last seen around 8.45am on Monday, November 18, 2024 in the Lewis Castle area of Stornoway. Despite extensive enquiries and rigorous searches involving a number of local and national specialist police resources, Aleksandr remains a missing person.
“Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time and we remain in regular contact with them. Physical searches have now concluded, however we will continue to review all available information and act on any new details which are passed to police. Please bring any information to our attention by calling 101, quoting incident 0803 of November 18, 2024.”
On Monday we told how Aleksandr’s mum Viktoria warned the public of a sick scam fundraiser set up in her son’s name. She told the public not to donate to the online page which claimed to fund the search effort.
Writing on social media, Viktoria said of the false fundraiser: “Please be aware. Not myself or my family haven’t set up any fundraising for Aleksandr. If anyone asks for the money for this matter do not send it. Please be cautious.”
The Record understands that the fundraiser has since been taken offline.
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