Police have questioned a university graduate who travelled to Chile with missing British professor Tom Marsh.
The 23-year-old PhD student has been spoken to as part of the ongoing hunt for the University of Warwick astrophysicist following his September 16 disappearance from astronomical observatory La Silla.
Chilean police confirmed this weekend Mr Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer.
They are investigating the possibility the 60-year-old, who is from the West Midlands market town of Rugby, had an accident while out walking but insist they are looking at “all options” and haven’t ruled out the theory his disappearance could be linked to a crime.
Police confirmation Mr Marsh had travelled to northern Chile accompanied by a student on flights that took them via Paris, Buenos Aires and Santiago coincided with local reports saying his room keys had been discovered in an unidentified place between the telescope where he was working and his guest accommodation.
Chilean media have described the 23-year-old as a “key piece” of the ongoing investigation to discover what happened to Mr Marsh, although there is no suggestion whatsoever that he played any role in the disappearance.
The student, who was reportedly sleeping in a room next to Mr Marsh, is said to have been questioned by forces to see if he can help shed any light on the mysterious disappearance.
Adrian Vega, the regional prosecutor of Coquimbo which La Silla forms part of, told Chilean TV channel T13: “Mr Marsh came to Chile with a student and they had arrived on September 14 on a long flight which had gone via France and Buenos Aires before onward flights via Santiago and the city of La Sirena. They headed to the observatory straight from La Sirena.
“We are keeping an open mind on what might have happened and investigating all lines of inquiry including the possibility he became lost during one of the walks he used to enjoy when he was here.”
Colleague Odette Toloza told a Chilean TV channel about how she found out about the disappearance.
She said: “Tom has been to La Silla several times as part of his work and knows the area very well. He was due to carry out astronomical observations over four nights this time round and stay till Tuesday or Wednesday.
“Every time he goes he uses the opportunity to take his students and this time he went with a first-year postgraduate student.
“The student sent an email out asking relevant people if they’d seen Tom because they had to meet up to begin observations and he hadn’t turned up.
“That’s when we realised something must have happened. The last time the student had seen Tom was the night before when they went to bed.
“They were due to see each the following day to eat together and Tom didn’t show.”
Ms Toloza said she was unclear on all the details but knows the student initially thought he might be resting because they’d had a long journey from England and wasn’t too concerned about the fact he hadn’t shown up for lunch.
“But what he did have clear is that they had to meet up later to carry out observations together and he sent out the email when Tom didn’t appear", she continued.
Ms Toloza met the student two weeks ago during a visit to the University of Warwick.
Army officials joined the search for Mr Marsh on Friday. A police helicopter and a plane usually employed to combat drug smugglers on Chile’s northern borders with Peru and Bolivia are also being used.
The plane has a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation.
Overnight Mr Marsh’s artist and illustrator daughter Tabitha thanked well-wishers for sharing a missing person appeal his family first published on Thursday on social media.
She said in an Instagram story alongside the missing poster photo of her dad, whose full name is Thomas Richard Marsh: “Thank you so much to everyone who’s shared so far. Every effort is being made to find my dad.
“If you haven’t shared yet, please do - we miss him and want him to come home.”
Mr Marsh’s family said in an initial statement after he went missing: “We are deeply concerned for Tom and miss him, and would ask anyone who may any have information on his whereabouts to please help.”
Warwickshire Police said: “We have been made aware of a Warwickshire resident who has been reported missing in Chile 60-year-old Professor Tom Marsh, who is from the Rugby area, had been visiting La Silla Observatory in the country on a research trip.
“Officers from Warwickshire Police are in contact with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Interpol, as well as Chilean authorities.
“Specialist officers are also supporting Professor Marsh’s family.”
Warwick University said in a statement: “On Friday (16 September), we learned that Professor Tom Marsh - the founding professor of the Astronomy and Astrophysics group here at Warwick - was reported as missing from La Silla Observatory in Chile where he had been working as a visiting astronomer at the ESO (European Southern Observatory).
“The local emergency services are undertaking an extensive search for Tom and we continue to hope for a successful outcome. We are doing everything we can to support their search, and are in regular contact with Tom’s family to offer our support and assistance.”
La Silla Observatory is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It is located around 95 miles northeast of the city of Serena on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and remotest places in the world.
