BRITISH STUDENT, 23, VANISHES FROM LISBON PARTY BOAT — SISTER FEARS HE MAY HAVE BEEN TAKEN

A British university student has mysteriously vanished during a family holiday in Lisbon after telling his cousin he was going to the toilet on a late-night party boat. Now his heartbroken family fears he may have been taken.

Julian Amaral, 23, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, disappeared during a white-themed party aboard the Vida De Jovem boat in Lisbon.

He had boarded the vessel with his 24-year-old cousin as part of a family holiday.

Then, at around 11:25 p.m., Julian told his cousin he was going to the toilet.

He walked downstairs towards a basement urinal.

And that was the last time his family says they know for certain where he was.

His phone location also appears to have stopped updating at almost exactly the same time.

It was later showing a location in the middle of the water, adding another disturbing layer to an already baffling disappearance.

HE WENT TO THE TOILET — AND NEVER CAME BACK

The party boat had been cruising the Tagus River before returning toward Lisbon.

Julian’s cousin was socialising when he suddenly realised his relative had been missing for much longer than expected.

He began looking around the boat.

But Julian was nowhere to be found.

As the vessel approached the dock, the cousin and other relatives became increasingly alarmed.

The family quickly began searching the surrounding area.

They checked bars, clubs, restaurants and other places where Julian might have gone.

They also went to Docks, a venue where boat parties commonly finish.

Still nothing.

After roughly an hour, the family contacted police.

What had initially looked like a missing-person emergency soon became a far more serious investigation.

WITNESSES CLAIM THEY SAW HIM LEAVE

One of the biggest mysteries is what happened when the boat reached Lisbon.

According to Julian’s family, several witnesses have said they saw him getting off the vessel.

Two security guards reportedly told investigators they saw Julian disembark.

Another person later contacted his sister Jennifer Amaral through social media, claiming she had spoken with Julian and also saw him leave the boat.

But nobody appears to know where he went afterwards.

Police searched the boat but reportedly found no trace of him.

That has left the family desperately trying to piece together the final moments of Julian’s night.

“MY THEORY IS THAT HE’S BEEN TAKEN”

Julian’s sister Jennifer, 34, has now spoken publicly about her fears.

She believes her brother may have been taken by someone.

One reason she is particularly concerned is that Julian does not speak Portuguese and was unfamiliar with the Lisbon area.

For his family, the possibility that he could have been approached by someone while alone has become increasingly frightening.

But authorities have not confirmed that Julian was abducted.

At this stage, it remains a theory held by his family rather than an established fact.

Portuguese authorities are continuing to investigate what happened to him.

POLICE AND MARITIME AUTHORITIES JOIN THE SEARCH

The investigation has now expanded beyond the initial police response.

Portugal’s Maritime Police joined the search after Julian’s family formally reported his disappearance.

Officials said boats had been searching the waters since Wednesday afternoon.

However, maritime authorities said there were no credible indications that Julian had fallen into the river, meaning divers were not initially deployed.

The investigation itself remains with Portuguese police.

Police have also checked nearby hospitals in case Julian had been taken there or had sought medical assistance.

His family plans to continue checking hospitals themselves as they refuse to give up the search.

A FAMILY HOLIDAY TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE

Julian had travelled to Portugal with relatives and was staying with family during the trip.

His disappearance has now overshadowed what was supposed to be a family holiday.

His sister described him as kind-hearted, friendly and full of personality.

She said he has nieces and nephews who are struggling to understand what has happened and that his mother is devastated.

For those closest to Julian, the hardest part is the uncertainty.

There is no confirmed explanation for why he disappeared.

There is no confirmed sighting after he reportedly left the boat.

And there is still no clear answer about where his phone went or why its location appeared to freeze around the time he told his cousin he was going to the toilet.

“WE JUST WANT HIM BACK SAFELY”

Jennifer is now appealing directly to anyone who may have seen Julian during the crucial hours after the boat party.

Even a seemingly insignificant detail could help investigators reconstruct his movements.

The family wants anyone who believes they saw Julian in Lisbon to come forward.

They are also continuing their own searches while staying in contact with authorities.

For now, the biggest question remains unanswered:

What happened to Julian after he disappeared from that boat?

Was he simply somewhere no one has thought to look yet?

Did something happen after he left the vessel?

Or is the family’s fear that he was taken ultimately going to prove correct?

No one knows yet.

But with Portuguese police and maritime authorities continuing their investigation, Julian’s family is desperately hoping that someone, somewhere, has the missing piece of information that can finally lead them to him.

Julian is 23, from High Wycombe, and was on holiday in Lisbon when he disappeared after attending a boat party. His family is urging anyone with information to come forward and help bring him home safely.