Dubai: A Scottish expatriate living in the UAE who was reported missing by her friends has turned up safe, police said on Tuesday.
Kirsty McLaughlin, who was believed to be missing, was reunited with her family at Al Barsha police station.
Friends of McLaughlin had issued an appeal on Facebook on Monday, calling for any information about her whereabouts, as her parents and friends were unable to locate her for more than 24 hours.
On Tuesday, Dubai Police issued a statement on their own Facebook page, noting that McLaughlin “had run away and was in a bad mental state”.
Maj Gen Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant to the Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, told Gulf News on Tuesday that police teams traced McLaughlin to an apartment that she was renting temporarily in another emirate.
Al Mansouri said she was found to be safe and unharmed.
The police said they had received two reports of her missing from family and friends. “A team from the Missing Person’s Department was immediately formed and started investigating the case, especially after learning the woman was under serious mental stress,” he said.
The friend had informed the police that McLaughlin, a school teacher, left her mobile phone at home.
The team found McLaughlin in the apartment, where police said they were told that she wanted to take time away from everything as she was under stress.
Maj Gen Al Mansouri said the team took her to Al Barsha police station, where she was picked up by her parents.
After learning McLaughling was safe, friends were overjoyed and thankful.
“Dear all, we were just informed Kirsty has been found and is safe. Thank you all for all shares and caring. We had thousands of people looking and that just warms up our hearts. God bless you all,” said friends in a Facebook post.
On Monday, posts requesting information about McLaughlin went viral on social media and were shared thousands of times.
One of the posts, posted by Pauline Donnachie, showed two photos of McLaughlin and a message seeking help to find her on Monday.
“Please help find Kirsty McLaughlin. Last seen yesterday in Dubai over 24 hours ago. Her family and friends are growing more and more concerned for her safety and wellbeing. If you could please share with any contacts you have in Dubai. She drives a white Volkswagen Beetle [pictured in one of the photos]. Any sightings please let Mitch Joseph Wall know. All want her found safe and sound,” read the post.
What to do in case of a missing person?
It it is an emergency, call 999
Head to the police station nearest to the missing person’s place of residence to file a missing person’s report.
Take a photo of the missing person and a copy of any identification document, such as a passport, Emirates ID or driving licence.
It is best that the person reporting the missing person is next of kin. If the person has no family in the UAE, a friend, house-mate or colleague can report them missing.
If no documents are available, the person needs to have the missing person’s full name.
If it is an emergency, people can call the police station and alert them, then head to the station to file the report.
Source: Dubai Police
