A search is under way for Julian Amaral, 23, a British man who vanished after a late-night boat party docked in Lisbon, with his family and Portuguese police appealing for information as investigators work to establish what happened in the minutes after he stepped off the boat.
An urgent search is under way after a British man vanished from a late-night boat party in Portugal. Julian Amaral, 23, had been on holiday with his family when he disappeared around midnight. Shortly after the boat docked in Lisbon, Julian reportedly told his cousin he was going to the toilet, but his cousin did not see him again. He was last sighted at the historic Lisbon dock of Rocha Conde de Óbidos in the early hours of Wednesday.
What is known so far
Julian had been staying with a relative during his time in Portugal, according to Portuguese media, rather than at a hotel. He attended a boat party alongside his cousin, called the Vida de Jovem Boat Party, a music event featuring Afrobeat and Afrohouse. The boat set off from Lisbon at around 7pm on Tuesday, before returning to dock in the city at midnight.
Two security staff reportedly saw Julian leave the boat at around midnight, according to local media, but did not see where he went afterwards. His mobile phone is currently switched off, and relatives believe he may have lost it, leaving him without any way to contact his family.
Family appeals for help
Julian’s older sister, Cassie, from London, shared a social media appeal, writing: “Hi, my brother Julian has been missing since last night after a boat party from Lisbon. We believe he may have lost his phone but he was last seen getting off at Rocha Conde de Obidos. He doesn’t know Lisbon at all, let alone Portugal, and doesn’t speak Portuguese. So if anyone sees him please do drop me a message. Police have been informed and are looking for him too.”
Another relative, Dania Silva, said Julian had been on holiday with the family and had attended the party with his cousin, who she said “would never have gone home without him… because of the close relationship they have.” She said he disappeared “between midnight and 12.15am” and had been wearing “a white T-shirt and dark grey long shorts.” She added: “Help us find Julian. No father or mother deserves to go through this.”
Relatives have confirmed that Julian only speaks English, meaning his unfamiliarity with Lisbon and inability to communicate in Portuguese are significant concerns for the family. Julian’s uncle has already gone to a police station to formally report his disappearance, according to Portuguese reporting.
Where he was last seen
Julian was last seen at Rocha Conde de Óbidos, on the Tagus waterfront, an area containing several docks, restaurants, bars and nightlife venues. A family member has also posted an appeal on Lisbon’s Reddit community, asking anyone who was near the docks or attending the party to come forward with information.
The same family member later provided an update, saying event staff are certain Julian physically left the boat, making an accidental fall from the vessel less likely, though this possibility has not been entirely ruled out. There is currently no confirmed evidence publicly indicating that Julian was assaulted or abducted, and authorities are still working to establish what happened after he left the boat.
Investigation under way
Portugal’s PSP Criminal Investigation unit is handling the case, with officers gathering witness accounts and examining the circumstances surrounding Julian’s disappearance. Police have launched an urgent search operation and have been checking hospitals in the Lisbon area as part of their enquiries, though there has been no reported confirmation that Julian has been found or admitted to any of them.
Organisers of the Vida de Jovem Fest have publicly acknowledged Julian’s disappearance and said they are cooperating with the authorities, offering whatever information they have that could help locate him.
As of the latest update, Julian has not been located, and Portuguese police continue to investigate his whereabouts.
