The sister of a Scots scientist who vanished four months ago now believes her brother “can no longer be alive”.
Fergus McInnes disappeared on a trip to Switzerland in early September.
Despite an extensive search by Swiss police, no trace of the 51-year-old has been found.
In October his father Bennet, who lives in Blairgowrie, said he feared his son may have died following an accident while walking in Martigny, 50 miles from Geneva.
At the time, Mr McInnes’ sister Lorna was hopeful her brother would be found alive.
However, posting on a website dedicated to the ongoing search, she has revealed a change of heart.
“When my dad first told me, some time ago, that he had come to the conclusion that Fergus must be dead, I couldn’t agree with him,” she wrote.
“It was only a short time after Fergus had gone missing, and I was of the opinion that he could still come home. That’s what I wanted to believe, and I felt there was a definite possibility that it could happen.
“Now that we’ve been through Christmas and New Year, I feel the same as my dad.
“I can’t speak for other members of the family, or anyone else who knows Fergus, but I believe that Fergus can no longer be alive.
“In writing this, I don’t wish to upset or discourage anyone else, because each of us must make up our own minds about the situation, but perhaps to try and explain why my dad and I feel the way we do.”
Ms McInnes said it was “inconceivable” that Mr McInnes would choose not to come home at Christmas.
His suitcase and mobile phone have never been found and the academic, who works at Edinburgh University, has not accessed his email since his disappearance.
Ms McInnes added: “The Swiss police have not been able to trace him in the area where he’s believed to have gone missing.
“It is, as we’ve mentioned before in these updates, mountainous and difficult terrain.
“Anyone meeting their end in such country could certainly disappear without trace, and the longer time goes on the less likely it is that any remains would be found.”