Tributes have been paid to a missing British pensioner who was found dead in Tenerife after going missing.
Gary Ferns, 70, reportedly vanished after being taken to the island’s El Mojon Hospital and being discharged the following day, sparking a desperate search by his family and friends. Fears had been growing for the wellbeing of the pensioner, who lived in Tenerife but was originally from Manchester. It was said around the time his disappearance was made public that he had last been seen near Playa Las Vistas in Los Cristianos in the south of the holiday island. Overnight his sister confirmed a body found in a hospital in the island capital Santa Cruz, understood to be another hospital to the facility Gary was reportedly discharged from shortly before his death, had been confirmed as his.
She went on to explain the delay in identifying his body had been down to the fact he had no ID on him and DNA testing had been necessary to make the positive match.
Elaine Schmidt-Ferns said in an emotional Facebook post, questioning why the DNA tests had taken so long to come back after a man’s body was found in February: “It is with deep sorrow and sadness that I announce the passing of my brother Gary.
“This has been a very bad time for all our family and of course Gary’s dear friends in the UK and Tenerife.
“It has been four months since he went missing and in February I flew to Tenerife and gave a DNA sample for testing as a body had been found, not on the streets as was first thought but in the hospital in Candelaria.
“Unfortunately Gary did not have any ID so that was why he was not located sooner.
“Having said that I gave the DNA on the 10th of February and I had the confirmation only this morning that the DNA was a match.
“We will know in the next few days more as the paperwork will be given to us through our solicitor and we will then know when he died and we will get the death certificate and then know what he died of.
“We were unable to tell anyone before because we just did not know for sure so that’s why there have been no posts recently.”
She ended her post by saying: “R.I.P Bro I will miss you.”
Susan Rice responded by saying: “May he rest in peace and may your hearts be comforted? God bless you all sending prayers for healing your way.”
Michael Fearns added: “Thinking of you auntie Elaine glad he’s been found thoughts are with you R.I.P uncle Gary love you.”
British friend Zoe Cann said in a Facebook tribute: “Rip gary he was such a lovely man he will be missed.”
Elaine Mary wrote: “R.I.P Gary very sad to hear his family and friends will at least now have closure.”
Others also questioned why it had taken officials so long to confirm his identity among other issues they raised despite his sister explaining the ID problem.
When the search for him began, friends explained he had mobility issues due to a broken hip and a previous illness, meaning he relies on a walking frame to move around.
He was well known among regulars at the Noah’s Ark bar in Puerto Colon, in the south of the island.
One Tenerife local claimed to have seen a person resembling Gary’s description sleeping in the car park of an Aldi Supermarket shortly before he was reported missing.
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