
Search for Scot who vanished on stag do in Portugal focuses on cliff area
Greg Monks was last seen leaving the main strip in the resort town of Albufeira in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The 38-year-old from Glasgow had arrived on the evening of Tuesday, May 27 as part of a stag do and was on a night out with friends.
The groomsman told the group he was leaving around 2am to return to his accommodation. Facebook Greg Monks was last seen in the popular resort of Albufeira on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning leaving the strip.
Members of his family have now flown out to aid the search, and have been told by police there have been no sightings of him at hospitals in the region.
He was last seen on a CCTV image, which the family say they haven't seen, but the sighting was confirmed by a friend of Greg's.
His sister, Jillian Monks, told STV News: 'The first CCTV sighting that put him in the area a few days ago was confirmed to be him.
'We weren't there yet – but since the police haven't shared any new images with us.'
Jillian said the local National Republican Guard (GNR) police force has deployed sniffer dogs in the search for Greg, which is focused on a rocky cliff area.
Police and locals are scouring the Cerro da Aguia area, which is dense with woodland.
The family say the police have been doing all they can, but are dealing with a lack of resources.
Jillian added: 'We need more manpower. The place where he has gone missing has a cliff.
'The people of Portugal have been out searching but they're having trouble accessing some areas because they're so dense.
'Drones have been out but seeing those images has been very difficult.'
The family have also had to deal with misinformation after a Facebook group was set up to help find Greg, with one potential sighting at a hospital proven to be false.
'Some of the stories that people have put out there are really difficult,' she added.
'A man a few days ago told me he was talking to Greg in the hospital, that he told him his name, but I think he just made it up.
'It just gives you hope and then it's ripped away again.'
However, Jillian says the help from locals aiding the search has been amazing on the whole.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities'.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Glasgow Times
3 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Loganair competition to reunite long-distance friends
Loganair's Season of Connections campaign is searching for the UK's longest-distance friendships, with the winning pair set to receive return flights to finally meet again in person. Lyn MacDonald, head of marketing and brand at Loganair, said: "This campaign is all about celebrating the real, meaningful connections that define our lives, and demonstrating the role regional travel can play in bringing people together. "Whether it's been months or years since friends last met in person, we want to help make that reunion possible." Read more: ScotRail issues travel warning to fans heading to Oasis gigs The competition is open to anyone with a long-distance friend. Entrants are encouraged to share their stories via Loganair's Instagram or Facebook pages, explaining why their friendship deserves a reunion. The competition runs until Sunday, August 17, and the winning duo will be announced later this summer with the reunion to take place in autumn. This new campaign follows the success of Loganair's Christmas giveaway, which offered a year of free flights to one winner. Inspired by the airline's festive advert Loganair, Actually, the giveaway drew a huge response from the public. Loganair hopes this new campaign will create another memorable moment, this time between friends kept apart by distance. Read more: Glasgow man speechless after scooping £725k holiday home and £69k Audi The airline's network spans destinations across the UK and beyond, including remote islands such as Orkney, the Isle of Man and Guernsey, as well as major cities like Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh. Loganair's codeshare agreements with British Airways and KLM also make it possible for passengers to travel even further to see loved ones. Earlier this year, Loganair was ranked second in the Which? annual customer survey of short-haul airlines, earning a 72% customer score. The airline received a five-star rating for customer service and four stars for booking, boarding, and cleanliness. For more information or to enter the competition, visit Loganair's Instagram or Facebook pages and follow the link in their bio.


Scotsman
32 minutes ago
- Scotsman
The Scottish airport where flights are rated the worst for cancellations and delays
Flights at the three main airports north of the Border were ranked for disruption Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Aberdeen flights suffered the greatest disruption among Scottish airports over the past three summers, new analysis of official figures has revealed. Flights at the north-east airport over that period also performed second equal worst compared to 24 UK airports along with those at Southend and Manchester, which were behind only bottom-rated Gatwick. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen was rated worst among the three main Scottish airports | PA Edinburgh's flights - at by far Scotland's busiest airport - were in joint fourth place on the worst-performed list with those at Luton, and behind Bristol's in third place. Glasgow flights were placed joint 11th, with Bournemouth's, behind those at airports in Southampton, Birmingham and London City (joint sixth), Exeter, Heathrow, Stansted and Cardiff. The ratings were based on official Civil Aviation Authority figures for cancellation rates and longest average delays at each airport between May and August 2022, 2023 and 2024. However, most delays are caused by factors outwith the control of individual airports, such as airlines, air traffic control - such as the major radar-related fault in London on Wednesday - weather, and disruption at other airports. Punctuality also differs between airlines. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The figures showed 3.9 per cent of Aberdeen flights were cancelled in the four-month period last year, 4.6 per cent in 2023 and 2.4 per cent in 2022. Average delays were 12.7, 20.1 and 23.1 minutes respectively. That compared to 1.8 per cent to 2.6 per cent of flights cancelled at worst-placed Gatwick, but which had longer average waits of between 28 and nearly 36 minutes. 'Disruption is not created equal' A total of 1.3 per cent of flights were cancelled at Edinburgh Airport last year, 2.1 per cent in 2023 and 1.6 per cent in 2022, when delays averaged 21.5, 26.7 and 29.7 minutes respectively. At Glasgow, 1.4 per cent of flights were cancelled in 2024, 2.3 per cent the previous year and 2 per cent in 2022, with average waits of 17.2, 18.8 and 22.1 minutes respectively. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martijn Hulshof, founder of traffic management software firm Traffic Chart, which devised the ratings, said: "The data shows not all disruption is created equal. Airports like Southend and Manchester may share the same reliability score, but for very different reasons, whether it's higher delay times or spiked cancellation rates. 'The same happens with Bristol and Cardiff. Both have cancellation rates of 0.8 per cent, yet their average delay times differ by almost three minutes. This indicates that some airports are likely managing their operations more efficiently than others despite similar challenges.' 'Aviation is complex' A spokesperson for AGS Airports, which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton, said: 'An airline's decision to reluctantly cancel a flight can be due to a number of factors, including weather issues, air traffic congestion, delayed arrivals or technical issues with aircraft. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We will continue to work with our airline partners and their handling agents to support them in improving overall levels of efficiency.' An Edinburgh Airport spokesperson said: "This study is of no use to anyone other than the PR company that devised it. Passengers know that aviation is complex and that many of the issues that drive delays are beyond the control of airports and airlines.


Daily Mirror
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'This £20 bag is my secret to avoiding Ryanair and easyJet luggage fines'
Airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, and WhizzAir charge for cabin bags, but this affordable backpack helps me ditch the fees It's easy to spot what seems like an affordable return ticket or a last-minute city break from a local UK airport. When it comes to booking, this is quickly shattered at the luggage section, as airlines charge for anything bigger than a 'personal item'. This includes small cabin bags, unless they fit under the seat in front, and sizing it wrong comes with a hefty fee at the boarding gate. Ryanair has different fees for 10kg and 20kg checked bags, while easyJet offers a large cabin bag option (56 x 45 x 25 cm) for a fee. For the last two years, I've used a simple yet effective Cabin Max bag, which has currently dropped in price in Amazon's sale, and I've never faced a fine at the gate. There's been no worrying about if it'll fit in the sizer, it's small enough to count as a personal item, and it fits enough outfits for a week's holiday. In total, I've done more than 12 flights with it across Europe from Copenhagen to Milan, Antwerp, and Dublin. Each time, I'm surprised how much I manage to fit in it. The exact clothes change each time, from four pairs of trousers (including jeans), six tops, a light jumper, PJs, on a winter trip to summer dresses and bikinis on a warmer holiday. However, the one thing I'd say is it tricky to fit shoes. Cabin Max under-seat bag £34 £19.95 Amazon Buy Here Product Description I've had to limit myself to just one pair of trainers or sandals. The bag measures 40 x 25 x 20, which meets the requirements for easyJet and WhizzAir, but not Ryanair (technically), even though I've used it numerous times with them, making sure not to fill it to the brim because it's a soft bag, it still fits in the sizer. There's a separate padded pocket for a laptop, which also comes in handy for passports, and it zips out like a suitcase. This is a favourite feature of mine, as it makes it easy to see the outfits neatly laid out. The only downside I'd mention is the design, it's not my favourite, and sometimes I wish I'd picked a different one. The same bag is also sold on the brand's site, for £1 more than Amazon's sale, now £20. For an alternative, this duffle bag from Dunelm is an even cheaper option for £10, however, it's shoulder strap may be uncomfortable if you're walking with luggage and sightseeing. For a premium option, British brand Antler has the Chelsea Backpack. Another backpack option, this would also fit under the seat of an airline. It's currently £98 on sale from its usual £144 price. Airline free carry-on restrictions: