By Oyintari Ben
According to police, a British professor who was visiting Chile for study has gone missing.
Police are actively looking for the Warwick University scientist who went missing in the Chilean desert about a week ago.
Tom Marsh, 60, of Rugby, Warwickshire, was visiting La Silla Observatory, which is located near the Chilean Atacama Desert and is about 370 miles (595 kilometres) north of Santiago, the country’s capital.
Since the evening of Friday, September 16, there has been no further word on him.
He was described by police as being white, 6 feet 3 inches tall, bald, and had beard and grey hair.
He was probably dressed in a grey wool cap, walking boots, and a blue rain jacket.
At Warwick University’s Department of Physics, Professor Marsh carries out research on binary stars.
“We are genuinely concerned about Tom and miss him,” his family said in a statement released through Warwickshire Police. “We would ask anyone who may have information on his whereabouts to please help.”
His daughter Tabitha said on social media that the family was “desperate” to find him and reported that he had been missing while on an observing run at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.
The town of La Serena is the closest. Please contact the police if you know anything or think you may offer any assistance. Thanks a lot.
“My family, and my dad’s friends and colleagues, would be beyond grateful for any help or information.”
According to Warwickshire Police, its officers are in touch with Interpol, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and Chilean authorities.
Those with information are urged to contact Warwickshire Police at (101), referencing incident 153 of September 18, 2022.
Police can be reached at +44 1926 415000 if calling from outside the UK, or information can be published online.
