Backpacker Missing in India – Ryan Chambers – Possibly Sighted in Goa

Daydream Believer

A young man called Ryan Chambers went missing in Rishikesh 2 ½ years ago. There has been an intensive search for him in the area. The full story of the search is here - http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...ambers-t15047/

When my partner and I were in North Goa in January we saw a young man who really stuck in our minds. At the time we did not know about Ryan, or his story. After reading about the story recently I decided to e-mail the mock up poster of Ryan to a friend in Goa asking him to keep an eye out.

When my partner saw the image on the screen, he instantly said “that’s the guy we saw at the side of the road” My partner has a photographic memory, so if anyone would remember clearly, he would.

Here is a description of the man we saw:

In mid-late January we were driving on our moped from Anjuna to Vagator, and as we slowed down for the corner to turn up to Hill Top we saw a guy standing on the corner (a pretty odd place for someone to be standing - there was nothing around) - I didn't see his face, but my partner did, and we both remember the guy very clearly, even though it was only fleeting. We can't say for sure it was Ryan, but the memory of the guy we saw is clear. And according to my partner that guy does look like Ryan.

The guy was only wearing a lunghi, and had quite long untidy dreads. He looked like what the locals call a 'lost it'. He had obviously been sleeping rough, and his back was totally covered in severe mosquito bites. He seemed to be looking for something on the ground, in a kind of blank eyed way. From memory he was about 5'10", and he was pretty skinny. His hair was sunbleached brown.

The guy we saw wasn't at all healthy looking, or remotely clean cut. He also wasn't clothed, and he didn't have short hair, or any sparkle in his eyes. He did however have the distinctive eyebrows, and the essence of Ryan's face.

Attached are the missing person poster (including details of a reward), and also some pictures of Ryan before he went missing. These have been chosen from a selection from the family as they most resemble the guy we saw. The differences between the before photos are that the guy we saw was very thin, very brown, had long untidy dreads, and looked very much like someone who had been living rough in India for 2 ½ years. Other than that, the similarity is striking.

Hopefully this will help find him, whether or not it was Ryan, the guy we saw needs help whoever he is.

The family have had many dead ends, but they agree this information is worth renewing the search for, especially as this is in a new area.

We thank you for any help anyone can offer. Things that will be useful are if people can post the missing person information in guest houses, bars and public places. Also, please keep an eye out, and pass the information on to your friends in the area.

Thanks again.

Attached Thumbnails

       

Attached Files

Ryan missing, English.pdf (40.3 KB, 135 views)

Ouzodave

I will be in Anjuna next month. I will keep my eyes peeled for the lad .

Daydream Believer

Nice one, thanks Ouzo.

Evileve

The last time we were in Goa I am 100% sure we saw the man who Daydream Believer noticed at the side of the road near Vagator. The man fitting your description was in Mapusa Market approximately five weeks ago. He was immediately noticeable and stood out as being different to the usual shoppers, market traders and tourists. We have visited Mapusa market regularly over the last few years but have never seen him before. He didn't look too healthy and he had a particularly bad tremor.

Daydream Believer

Thanks for posting Evileve. He's pretty distinctive looking, so hopefully now there is a new trail, he'll be found asap. I have passed on your message to his father.

*fingers crossed*

Jock and Di

Thank you so much DD and Evileve. It still humbles us to think of all the friends worldwide who are part of or long journey. Regards Jock, Di and family.

Evileve

Hi Jock and Di, I hope this comes to something for you. Mapusa market is a really popular place to visit - particularly on Fridays. Anyone who has read this thread will, without doubt, recognise the description given by Daydream Believer. I just wish I had read this before our last trip in February. Unfortunately, we won't be going back until December.

Kind regards,

Eve

Daydream Believer

Eve, is it my description that matches, or also the photos? Just wanting to double check?

Roxy1

If this guy has been seen in the anjuna/vagator area then it is worth looking in Chapora. This is where most 'lost its' end up, as its cheap and the locals are used to flip outs.

Nick-H

Jock and di, you must have become very cautious of false leads by now --- but perhaps even more so of no leads at all.

Wishing you well...

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Evileve

Hi Daydream Believer - sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It was your description which triggered my memory. For some reason the man who I saw just stuck in my mind.

Eve

Daydream Believer

It was the same with us. We only saw him for a moment, but we both remember him very clearly. Even in my case, where I don't have a mutant stylee photographic memory like my partner, he was very easy to spot & remember.

I've put some local people onto the trail - hopefully they find him as easily.

kristinm

All our prayers are with the Chambers that this is a lead - and otherwise with the family of the man, whoever he is, that he gets some help somehow. Ryan's story was in my head when we were in India -(the internet does have some wonderful benefits!) but I only saw one western girl who looked as though she was in a similar state - she was in Delhi, with a 'guru', she was emaciated and blank eyed, covered in spots and bites.... I wonder if her parents are desperately searching for here as well - and how many lost loved ones there are.

A friend of mine disappeared in India 20 years ago, and fortunately reappeared about a year later... very much the worse for wear. So people can find their way back.

Daydream Believer

Is anyone in North Goa at the moment? Or does anyone have any other contacts there? I'm trying to get the missing person information to a bar owner in Vagator, but he doesn't have e-mail of his own, and I'm not sure the e-mail I sent to one of his regulars has got through. It would be great if someone could take the poster, photos, and description to him.

Once I know he has it then he'll get looking, as well as being able to be a meeting point for other people I've been trying to contact who doesn't have e-mail.

Thanks, DB.

femaleingoa

hi i am new on here and just read this thread, i know there is a lot of false leads so until i am sure, i will not comment, but i would like to, if you do not mind put up the poster in the local bars i go to, in calangute and mapusa, i am sure if he is in goa with the monsoon coming up he will be spotted a lot easier,
in the meantime my heart goes out to the family, i live here with my husband and 2 teenagers (girl and boy)who are educated in goverment schools and with all the new problems in goa with safety ect worry about them everyday, but at least for the time being i know where they are.
my heart felt sympathies to the family