Police in Poland are searching for an Irish football fan who has been missing since the weekend.
James Nolan (21), from Blessington in Co Wicklow, was last seen in the town of Bydgoszcz where he had been drinking with friends in a bar.
The young man went missing early on Saturday, and his family have said they are very worried for his welfare.
The voluntary Irish Fans Embassy in Poznan began a leaflet drop in and around the old market square today in the hope some of the thousands of fans may have seen him.
A spokesman for the embassy said: “His family are very worried and we and the Irish embassy are asking to circulate this information to anyone who might know.”
Missing person messages and alerts have been circulated on Facebook and Twitter. The Polish missing persons agency Itaka has also been drafted in by the Department of Foreign Affairs to escalate the search.
Mr Nolan was travelling in Poland with up to 10 others staying in campsites around the country. They have stayed on in Bydgoszcz to help the local search.
The town is roughly halfway between Gdansk and Poznan, where Ireland’s final match is being played against Italy tonight.
Nearby campsites and hotels were being used as a base and stopping off point for thousands of Irish travelling across Poland during Euro 2012.
Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs are now working with local police to try to locate the missing man. A spokeswoman confirmed: “We are providing consular assistance and have been in contact with his family.”
When Mr Nolan was last seen he was wearing a white T-shirt with a picture of Chuck Norris on it, along with dark blue jeans and grey runners.
In a statement on their website, the Fans Embassy asked supporters to remain vigilant.
This is the second time that police have been asked to help locate a missing Irish person during the Euro 2012 tournament. Last week embassy officials were alerted to a missing man who showed up after two days.
PA