The daughter of a British woman who vanished three months ago after a trip to a supermarket in France has described her ordeal as a 'living hell.' The family of Stephanie Thomson, 75, have shared their anguish after the retiree disappeared from her motorhome in the Haute-Vienne region in western France in January.
The Disappearance
Mrs. Thomson was last seen at Camping les Vigères in Le Chalard on January 29. She had been enjoying her retirement in the French countryside with her husband Ken since relocating there in 2012. After returning from shopping, Ken, a former British Steel worker, took a nap. When he woke up, his wife was gone—without her phone, passport, or credit cards.
Search Efforts
The French Gendarmerie launched a search operation involving dogs, helicopters, and divers, scouring nearby forests and lakes, but no trace of the pensioner has been found. An appeal was issued in February, noting that Mrs. Thomson often walked forest paths around Chalard and Ladignac le Long, yet extensive searches have yielded nothing.
Family's Anguish
Her daughter Tracy, 55, from Redcar, said the past months have been 'unimaginable.' She told the Sun: 'The last three months have just been like a living hell. Not knowing where she is is one of the hardest things to try and get my head around. I hope she is safe, but every single scenario is running through my mind. It's torturous. Your mind never switches off. I never imagined that I would be in a situation where I don't know where my mum is.'
Possible Struggles
Tracy revealed that her father had recently started chemotherapy for lung cancer. The couple have been married for 56 years. Tracy fears her mother may not have coped with the cancer diagnosis as well as she appeared. 'Confirmation from her that she is okay would just be great, but I understand when people are struggling with their mental health they find it hard to reach out,' she added.
Description
Mrs. Thomson is described as slim with grey hair. She was last seen wearing dark trousers, black or grey boots, and a light blue puffer jacket.
The Gendarmerie in Haute-Vienne continues to appeal for information. Anyone with details is urged to contact authorities.
