BRITISH STUDENT, 23, VANISHES AFTER LISBON PARTY BOAT — PHONE LOCATION FROZE, WITNESSES SAW HIM GET OFF

A British university student vanished during a family holiday in Lisbon — and now his desperate family fears he may have been taken.

Julian Amaral, 23, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, disappeared after attending a late-night white party aboard a boat in Lisbon, Portugal.

More than 24 hours later, the case had escalated into a criminal investigation.

And one detail has left his family particularly alarmed:

Julian’s phone location reportedly froze at almost exactly the moment he disappeared.

HE TOLD HIS COUSIN HE WAS GOING TO THE TOILET

Julian had been enjoying a family holiday in Portugal when he joined his 24-year-old cousin for the Vida De Jovem boat party.

The vessel departed Lisbon at around 7 p.m., with music playing as guests attended the all-white event.

At approximately 11:25 p.m., Julian reportedly told his cousin he was going to the toilet.

He headed downstairs toward a urinal in the basement of the boat.

But he never returned.

His phone location reportedly stopped updating at almost exactly the same time.

The signal remained fixed, appearing to place him somewhere in the middle of the ocean.

Whether that location is accurate remains unclear.

But for his family, the timing has become one of the most disturbing pieces of the mystery.

THEN THE BOAT DOCKED — AND JULIAN WAS GONE

As the boat approached Lisbon, Julian’s cousin realized he had been missing for some time.

The family quickly began searching.

They checked the area around the dock, including bars, restaurants, streets and nightclubs where Julian might have gone.

They also checked Docks, a bar where boat-party guests commonly gather after returning to shore.

There was no sign of him.

After roughly an hour, the family contacted police.

Authorities then began searching for the missing student and checking nearby hospitals in case he had ended up there or had been taken there by someone else.

THEN WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING HIM LEAVE

The mystery deepened when several people reportedly told the family that they had seen Julian get off the boat.

Two security guards were among those who reportedly saw him disembark.

Another witness contacted Julian’s sister Jennifer Amaral through social media and said she had spoken with him and also saw him leave the vessel.

Police searched the boat.

But Julian was nowhere to be found.

That left investigators facing a crucial question:

If Julian really left the boat, where did he go next?

HIS SISTER FEARS HE MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN

Julian’s sister, Jennifer Amaral, 34, has now spoken publicly about the family’s fears.

She believes he may have been taken.

One reason she is particularly worried is that Julian does not speak the local language and was unfamiliar with Lisbon.

She fears those circumstances could have made him vulnerable.

But there is currently no confirmed evidence that Julian was abducted.

His sister’s theory remains a possibility being considered by the family while authorities continue trying to establish what happened after he disappeared.

THE 24-HOUR MARK CHANGED THE INVESTIGATION

As the search continued, the case passed the 24-hour mark.

The investigation was then moved into a criminal investigation, adding another layer of urgency to the search.

Portuguese authorities have been conducting inquiries and checking possible locations, including hospitals.

The family has also said they plan to continue checking hospitals themselves.

They are refusing to stop searching.

A FAMILY DESPERATE TO BRING HIM HOME

Jennifer has described her younger brother as kind-hearted, friendly and extremely personable.

She said he has a bright future ahead of him and is deeply loved by his family.

His nieces and nephews are reportedly among those waiting desperately for news.

For his mother, the uncertainty has been devastating.

The family does not know whether Julian wandered away, became disoriented, suffered an accident or encountered another person after leaving the boat.

Every possibility remains open.

And every hour without an answer makes the search more desperate.

ONE NIGHT — AND A LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

Julian had gone to a party with his cousin during what was supposed to be a family holiday.

He told his cousin he was going to the toilet.

His phone location stopped moving.

The boat returned to Lisbon.

Witnesses reportedly saw him leave.

Then he vanished.

Police searched the vessel and found nothing.

Hospitals have been checked.

The family has searched the streets and surrounding areas.

And now the case has entered a criminal investigation.

For Jennifer and the rest of Julian’s family, there is only one message they want to hear:

Julian has been found.

Until that happens, the mystery surrounding the 23-year-old British student’s disappearance continues.

Anyone who may have seen Julian after he left the Vida De Jovem boat is being urged to come forward with information that could help investigators trace his movements.

His family is still waiting — and they just want him home safely.