A friend of missing British model and influencer Rachel Kerr has refuted claims she 'met a man' before vanishing during a holiday to the Moroccan resort of Agadir.
Friend Speaks Out
Alexis Shaw, who has been leading the online appeals for information on the Scot's whereabouts along with Rachel's cousin Claire Hill, also admitted the 31-year-old was 'in mental crisis and a danger to herself.'
One well-wisher who responded to pleas for help from Rachel's family claimed yesterday the missing woman had been seeing a barman from one of the hotels in Agadir. He said, describing City of Glasgow College-educated Rachel as a 'vulnerable woman': 'I heard she had seen through the barman or holiday entertainment team member's story to get money out of her. She wasn't happy about this.'
Police Involved
Alexis, who lives in Kirkby near Liverpool, had already confirmed the police were involved in one of her first Facebook posts after the worrying disappearance. She said: 'The police are involved. She was last seen at Smart Nightclub 5am on Saturday morning. She ran out of money completely on Friday. Please get in contact if anyone sees her as police are trying to locate her to get her home safely.'
Rachel Kerr was on a work trip in Agadir, with her last known location being the Caribbean Village Agador hotel, before disappearing on April 25. She told a well-wisher who responded by asking when Rachel was due to fly home: 'She was due to fly home a couple of weeks ago and her brother flew out to find her but she hid her passport as she is in a bad mental place right now. Her brother had to leave and come home after a few days for work and she was refusing to come home. She is no longer in the hotel and has run out of money.'
Appeal for Facts
Early this morning, in response to social media comments about Rachel allegedly meeting someone she could be travelling around Agadir with, Alexis begged: 'Speculations are not needed on this matter, only helpful facts.' She added: 'She has not met a guy and travelling. Her phone is not broken. She is in mental crisis and a danger to herself.'
Rachel's Scotland-based cousin Claire Hill, who has also been using social media to seek help on her current whereabouts and raise awareness about her disappearance, said yesterday: 'Last known to be staying at the Caribbean Village hotel. However she checked out on Saturday and we haven't heard from her since. Her phone has been switched off. We're very concerned for her welfare and are appealing for any information on her whereabouts or who she may be in contact with out there.'
Nightclub Concerns
More travellers voiced concerns overnight about the nightclub Rachel is said to have been seen in before she disappeared after one well-wisher branded it as a place with a 'reputation for drink spiking' and another claimed: 'Smart isn't a good place for a young person. Hope she is found safe.' It is described online as a popular dance venue in the heart of Agadir within the Hotel Agador complex, formerly known as Salambo Nightclub. It offers high-energy nightlife featuring DJs, music, and thematic parties designed to keep revellers dancing until the early morning hours.
Ashley Davidson, from Manchester, said overnight on social media: 'I wouldn't send any woman into that club. I went, two men one woman, and had to play security all night. Just a club full of older, seedy men targeting women. I didn't mind the hotel but the club I always kept a bottle on me put it that way.'
Social Media Presence
Rachel shared a bikini picture on Instagram, where she has thousands of followers, on April 6 and tagged the location as Agadir. Her last post was on April 13, captioned 'la marina.' Members of Rachel's family are understood to be flying out to Agadir today to search for her. She has worked with brands online, promoting trips abroad, including an upcoming tour of Agadir in October.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said yesterday: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who is missing in Morocco.'
