The family of a 30-year-old Costa Rican man who disappeared on July 4th has appealed to anyone who may have seen the missing tourist to contact the police.

• Campaign aims to reduce ball injuries (15 Apr 11)
• Investigation into roof fall at Bern spa (14 Apr 11)
• Six hurt in Alpine helicopter crash (18 Feb 11)

Jorge Mario Brenes Jaikel left his parents and one of his sisters in Vevey to go snowboarding alone last Wednesday at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt.

He withdrew cash from an ATM, rented snowboarding equipment and made his way to the ski lift at around 10am, his sister, Mariela Brenes, told The Local in an email.

He has not been seen since.

His family became concerned when he did not return by train to Vevey as planned on Thursday. Their fears were exacerbated when he failed to show up for a work-related flight to London on Saturday.

“We haven’t found him so far but we’re still praying,” his cousin Fernando Acuna told The Local in a phone conversation on Monday afternoon.

“The police were out searching today and they will continue with dogs tomorrow.”

Jorge Mario Brenes Jaikel is an experienced snowboarder and is in good physical condition, but he had been having problems of late with his right ankle, his sister said.

He is 1.77 metres tall with brown eyes and black hair.

He was wearing black ski pants, a black jacket and black snowboard boots. He was using a red Burton snowboard.

Anyone with information relevant to the case is advised to contact the Valais cantonal police at 027 326 56 56.