Catherine Shaw: Puppy walked by missing British backpacker found alone in Guatemala
A major search involving drones, a helicopter and a dive team聽is under way to find Ms Shaw who was last seen on 5 March.
Monday 11 March 2019 19:57, UK
A puppy walked by a missing British woman before she vanished in Guatemala has been found alone "shivering and crying".
Catherine Shaw, from Witney, near Oxford, was last seen in the early hours of 5 March and was reported missing later that day.
She had been staying in the Lake Atitlan area of the central American country with a friend at the time of her disappearance.
A Facebook page set up to find Ms Shaw said she had left the Eco Hotel in Mayachik with a puppy shortly before 5.30am on 5 March.
A statement on the Facebook page said the animal was found alive on Friday morning at the highest lookout of Indian Nose, a volcano overlooking Lake Atitlan.
"The puppy was shivering and crying according to the man who found it," the statement added.
A major search involving drones, a helicopter and a dive team is under way in effort to find Ms Shaw.
The Lucie Blackman Trust, which is supporting Ms Shaw's family, confirmed her jacket has been found, reportedly around two miles from where she was last seen.
Ms Shaw's parents Ann and Tarquin said they have been "desperately worried" since she disappeared.
"She has always been really good about keeping in touch and informing us of her whereabouts and activities," they said in a statement.
"So this is unusual behaviour which gives us great concern for her safety. Please help us to find her."
In a video released by the trust, Ms Shaw's mother urged her to get in touch, while her father described his daughter as of "slim build, and about 5ft 7in tall".
"Your friends, your family are all really worried about you, please come home sweetheart," he added.
Matthew Searle, chief executive of the Lucie Blackman Trust, has stressed how the "first few days are vitally important" because those who may have seen something could still be in the area.
"We urge anyone who may have any information, no matter how small, to get in touch as soon as they can. They could hold the key to bringing Catherine home," he added.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman confirmed they are supporting the family of a British woman and are "in contact with the local authorities as they search for her".