Great British Bake Off star John Whaite’s delight as ‘distressed’ sister who went missing in Portugal after being stopped from getting on flight is found ‘just in time’
- John Whaite says his sister has disappeared and was not carrying a passport
- Accused Portuguese police of not wanting to help the family search for her
- Mr Whaite’s sister, Victoria Cunningham has now been found by a stranger
- She was suffering from a hormone-based mood disorder, Mr Whaite said
The sister of Great British Bake Off star John Whaite has been found after being reported missing in Portugal.
In a tweet the delighted 2012 winner Mr Whaite, said his sister Victoria Cunningham had been found ‘just in time’ by a stranger.
Mr Whaite put out an appeal find his sister after she went missing from Faro Airport in the Algarve on Monday, but to his delight has now been found.
He tweeted: ‘She is alive, she is sober, but she is very very distressed (it seems she was found JUST in time).’
John (pictured, left) made an appeal earlier this week after his sister, Victoria Cunningham (pictured, right) went missing in Portugal. She has now been found
The TV star shared this desperate plea with his followers on Twitter in the hope of bringing his sister home. She has now been found by a stranger
In a follow up tweet, he said: ‘We are now going to focus on getting her home and back in good health in the privacy and protection of our family.
‘My gratitude to each one of you is undying. You’ve helped save a sister, a daughter and a mother – thank you.’
Mr Waite said she was suffering form a hormonal-based illness known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
The cook – who used to present ITV show Chopping Block – tweeted an appeal to find his sister earlier in the week and said she left the airport in Faro with no passport on her.
He tweeted: ‘My sister has gone missing from Faro Airport. We are all worried for her welfare. Portuguese police aren’t interested in helping us search for her.’
Mr Waite accused the Portuguese Police of doing nothing to help in the frantic search. But he said the British authorities are putting pressure on them to investigate.
Ms Cunningham (pictured) was missing in the Algarve without her passport, sparking a desperate plea from her brother on Twitter. She has now been found
He posted four photos of his sibling on Twitter, adding: ‘Her name is Victoria Cunningham. She has no passport with her. If you see her please tell her that her family just want her home safe and sound.’
Mr Waite won the third series of the BBC programme. Faro is the main airport in the Algarve region used by tens of thousands of Brits every year.
He said the family is ‘worried sick’ and said she could pose a threat to her herself. Victoria has been diagnosed with depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
The cook tweeted: ‘Timeline for my sister: Saturday 11:05: Unable to board flight due to breakdown & intoxication (linked to diagnosed depression & PMDD).
‘Boyfriend leaves her at Faro airport. Monday 13:90 (sic): due to board flight 7194 left by police @ check-in. Absconds w/o passport/£.’
He added: ‘Apparently she headed towards a petrol station in Faro, leaving the airport trying to take a can of coke w/o payment (can therefore assume no money)
‘My other sister Jane and friend Chris are flying out now to try and find her. I’ll relay info from the UK’
He continued: ‘She is vulnerable and could pose a risk only to herself. Family worried sick. Have informed consulate, UK police, Portuguese Police.’
He another Tweet he added: ‘Yes she dumped her own passport. Yes she was intoxicated.
‘Yes the Portuguese police have said they don’t have to look for her unless she commits a crime.
‘But she has a history of mental illness and suicide risk. This behaviour stems from diagnoses of depression and PMDD.’
British holidaymakers have been helping to try and track down the missing woman, with some sharing locations in which they claim to have spotted her.
Mr Waite (left) took to social media to share with his followers on Twitter that his sister (right) has disappeared in Portugal