Family confirm first sighting of missing stag party man Liam Colgan

The family of a man who disappeared during a stag party in Germany have revealed details of his first confirmed sighting.

Liam Colgan, from Inverness, has been missing for more than a week following the party for his brother Eamonn.

The sighting was a short time after the group had last seen him in the Veermaster Bar in Hamburg on Saturday 10 February.

The family said this creates new lines of inquiry that are now being followed.

CCTV footage seen by the family shows Liam arriving at the vehicle barrier of G&J building in Baumwall, Hamburg, at about 02:20.

A witness reports seeing the 29-year-old and helping him up some steps to the main entrance of that building after he fell.

This was corroborated by the CCTV.

The footage goes on to show Liam trying unsuccessfully to get in to the building, before walking towards the Michelwiese Park.

He is helped again by the same witness to get into this park, and is last seen heading towards the Portuguese quarter at about 02:30.

Liam's family are now receiving support from the Lucie Blackman Trust, set up to help families whose loved ones have gone missing or died abroad.

Chief executive Matt Searle said: "There have been a few people coming forward thinking they have seen him but this is the first one that has been confirmed by the family as being Liam.

"It is only about an hour or so after he was last seen but the family sees this as positive.

"It gives them an idea of where he was going."

As the search for Liam Colgan entered its second week, his family urged the public to continue their support.

Liam's brother Eamonn last night confirmed a body pulled from the River Elbe on Sunday was not his sibling.

He said his family had been encouraged by sightings of a "confused Scotsman" wandering the city of Hamburg and asked for help to "bring Liam home".

Eamonn Colgan, 33, from Broughty Ferry, said: "I would like to make it clear the police have stated to me that the male that was recovered from the Elbe does not match the description of Liam.

"I'm obviously incredibly relieved that this was not Liam, however pass on my condolences to the family involved in what must be a horrible time for them.

"My brother is still out there and we are still receiving sightings. We need to find Liam and bring him home to his family and friends."

He has asked that Scots with connections in Hamburg and the surrounding areas continue to share the appeal.

He said: "We need your assistance to help do this by sharing the appeal and contacting your friends in Germany to do so. I feel humbled and eternally grateful for everyone's assistance in helping bring Liam home."

The Lucie Blackman Trust is currently sifting through photographs, CCTV and other intelligence.

Matt Searle explained: "We have had an unprecedented amount of photos sent to us, ones people have taken with who they think is Liam in the background.

"None of these has been him so far, but it only takes one to be able to find him so we urge people to keep supporting the search.

"It's been great that Liam's case has seen so much exposure, both in mainstream and social media.

"But what we tend to see is that after the initial headlines and flurry of interest, these cases can lose momentum.

"It's vital to keep sharing the appeal, most importantly to friends and contacts in Germany."