Australian Alert For Missing Armagh Man

A County Armagh backpacker has gone missing in Australia.

Stephen King, from Keady, has not been seen for almost a week after leaving friends on a night out in Melbourne, (pictured).

His family here are growing increasingly concerned and are preparing to fly out to Australia.

They said he went missing after a night out almost a week ago and that he has not been seen since leaving a group of friends at Irish pub P.J O'Brien's in Southbank at about 3.15am on Saturday, July 19.

His friends raised the alarm when the tiler and bricklayer failed to meet them on Sunday, July 20 to watch a Gaelic football match.

His brother-in-law, Paddy Hughes, said Mr King's family, including his seven siblings, were in shock and desperate for news: "It is totally out of character. He was very close with these guys, they were friends since primary school, since the age of five and he is now 28, so they were life-long friends.

"We are drawing a blank at this stage, it is all very mysterious. We are just numb."

According to UTV in Belfast a representative of the Victoria police admitted there are no formal searches being carried out but officers are very concerned for his welfare.

"We are genuinely concerned for Stephen's welfare especially because he is a visitor from Ireland.

"We are concerned that he hasn't made any contact with friends or family and we'd like to hear from him.

"At this stage we are treating it as a missing person's appeal and are waiting for the public's assistance," she said.

Mr King, 28, went Melbourne for a year's working holiday three weeks ago and was staying with friends in St Kilda.

(BMcC/NS)