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Police search for cyclist who went missing in Scotland

Tony Parson was last seen on evening of Friday 29 September during 100-mile ride in West Highlands

Volunteers and officers from Police Scotland are searching for a man who went missing during a 100-mile bike ride almost a fortnight ago.

Anthony Parson, known as Tony, had planned to ride home to Tillicoultry near Stirling from Fort William, leaving on Friday 29 September. He had taken a train to Fort William earlier that day.

He was last seen when he left the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, which lies on the West Highland Way north of Loch Lomond, at approximately 11.30pm that evening.

The 63-year-old is thought to be retired and it is believed that he previously served in the Royal Navy.

A CCTV image taken as he rode through Glencoe Village on his yellow-framed bike at around 6pm on Friday showed Mr Parson wearing a red jacket under a high-visibility vest.

Anthony Parsons in Glencoe Village (via Police Scotland)

He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and with a stocky build, has a moustache and wears glasses, with tattoos of an anchor on his right arm and an eagle on his left arm.

Police last week deployed a helicopter to fly over the route to try and find him, with coastguards and mountain rescue volunteers also joining in the search, focusing on the area between Bridge of Orchy and Crianlarich.

Chief Inspector Drew Sinclair said: “I am appealing for anyone who may have seen a man matching Tony’s description on the A82 between Fort William and Crianlarich between 4pm on Friday, September 29, and 8am on Sunday, October 1, to please contact us.

“We are concerned for Tony’s welfare and are asking anyone who may have seen him or who knows his current whereabouts to contact us immediately,” he added.

Anyone who has information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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3 comments

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supernova | 6 years ago
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  I reckon he took the old miltary road that runs adjacent to the main road . it would be safer for him. 3/4 of the way along he saw  a potential short cut that would take him back on to the main road. the short cut was a path that was too steep for him.  unfortunately it led him directly down into the river

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Grahamd | 6 years ago
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Hope they find him and find him well. 

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dottigirl replied to Grahamd | 6 years ago
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Grahamd wrote:

Hope they find him and find him well. 

Same here but it sounds a bit grim. 

4pm is a little late to be starting a 100+mi ride - he must've been planning to stop somewhere overnight. Perhaps at the hotel mentioned, and then he chose to ride on for whatever reason.

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