Found Deceased Chile - Tom Marsh 60, Uk National, University Professor missing from a research trip, 16 September 2022

[StillDiggin]

A Warwickshire professor has gone missing during a research trip in South America, police say.
Tom Marsh, a Warwick University academic from Rugby, had been visiting La Silla Observatory in Chile. He was last spoken to on Friday evening.
Warwickshire Police said it was liaising with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Interpol, and Chilean authorities.
The 60-year-old's family said they were "deeply concerned".
In a statement issued through the Warwickshire force, relatives said: "We are deeply concerned for Tom and miss him, and would ask anyone who may have information on his whereabouts to please help."
Specialist police officers were supporting the family, police said.
Mr Marsh is described as white, approximately 6ft 3ins, with balding grey hair and a beard. He was likely to have been wearing a blue rain jacket, walking boots and a grey woollen hat.
In a post on social media, his daughter Tabitha said the family was "desperate" to find the professor of astronomy and astrophysics.
"He was out on an observing run at the La Silla Observatory in Chile when he went missing.
"The closest town is La Serena. If anyone has any information or thinks they can help in any way, please contact the police.... Thank you.
"My family, and my dad's friends and colleagues, would be beyond grateful for any help or information."
An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man missing in Chile and are in contact with the local authorities."

Warwick University professor goes missing during Chile research trip

Tom Marsh's family say they are "deeply concerned" after last hearing from him almost a week ago.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[GuyfromCanada]

British professor Tom Marsh goes missing on research trip to Chile

Police are urgently searching for the Warwick University scientist who vanished almost a week ago in the Chilean desert.

news.sky.com

 

[dotr]

Hunt for missing University of Warwick professor, 61, in Chile

Thomas Richard Marsh, an astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen six days ago near astronomical observatory La Silla on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert in Chile.

www.dailymail.co.uk

''Thomas Richard Marsh, a British astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen six days ago near the remote astronomical observatory La Silla on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert where he is understood to have been working.

Police have admitted they are considering 'all options' in their search for the 61-year-old, a keen walker who is said to have been very familiar with the mountainous terrain where he vanished.''

'He was out on an observing run at the La Silla Observatory in Chile when he went missing.

'The closest town is La Serena. If anyone has ANY information or thinks they can help in ANY way, please contact the police. If you're in the UK, dial 101 and quote the reference: INC 153 18/9/22 Warwickshire Police. If you're outside the UK, please call +44 1926 415000.

'Thank you. My family, and my dad's friends and colleagues, would be beyond grateful for any help or information.

'Even if you don't think you can do anything, please share this — someone you know might be able to help us.'

Expanding on a description of the clothes he was likely to have been wearing when he was last seen, she including a missing poster on her post which said: 'Probably wearing a blue rain coat, grey woollen hat and walking boots.'''

 

[WingsOverTX]

British professor Tom Marsh goes missing on research trip to Chile

Police are urgently searching for the Warwick University scientist who vanished almost a week ago in the Chilean desert.

news.sky.com

What kind of animal or human predators can be found near this remote desert site?

Did he disappear in darkness or daylight? Was he out in the field or working inside a building that day?

Who saw him last and where? Do they only have video or was there validated personal contact?

Was he spending his entire trip at the observatory or traveling to other places?

What was his relationship like with any colleagues where he was working & living? What are they saying?

If it wasn't such a remote location, it would be less puzzling. OTOH, if he had to go very far into the desert to work alone, known hazards should be fairly easy to eliminate.

MOO

 

[WingsOverTX]

Chilean police have launched a major search for a British scientist who has gone missing in the north of the country. Thomas Richard Marsh, an astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen a week ago near the astronomical observatory La Silla on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert where he is understood to have been working.

Police have admitted they are considering “all options” in their search for the 61-year-old, a keen walker who is said to have been very familiar with the mountainous terrain where he disappeared.

Chilean police launch major search for British astrophysicist disappeared in the Atacama Desert

Chilean police have launched a major search for a British scientist who has gone missing in the north of the country. Thomas Richard Marsh, an astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen a week ago near the astronomical observatory La Silla on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert where...

en.mercopress.com

Searches using specialist equipment including drones and involving volunteers from a local flight club are only taking place during daylight because of the nature of the terrain.

Criminal investigators from Chile PDI’s police are understood to have been drafted in to help discover if the disappearance is accidental or could be linked to a crime. Officers from the Carabineros national law enforcement police are also involved in the search.

Local PDI police chief Carlos Albornoz said: “Search work is being done on the ground and interviews and statements are being taken.

“Other organizations are also involved in the operation to try to establish as quickly as possible where this person is. “Nothing is being ruled out and all lines of inquiry remain open.”

 

[WingsOverTX]

Deep concern for UK professor missing in Chile for a week

Deep concern for UK professor missing in Chile for a week

Officials in Chile are using specialist equipment including drones

www.google.com

The 61-year-old boffin, from Rugby, Warks., was out on an “observing run” on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert when he vanished. He was last spoken to last Friday morning and has not been seen since.

It is understood Prof Marsh, who is described as a “keen walker”, was wearing a blue rain jacket, walking boots and a grey woollen hat. A major police operation has been launched after he was reported missing.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Cops quiz graduate who travelled with missing Brit professor last seen in desert

Chilean police confirmed this weekend Tom Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer

www.mirror.co.uk

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 disappearanc

 

[WingsOverTX]

Cops quiz graduate who travelled with missing Brit professor last seen in desert

Chilean police confirmed this weekend Tom Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer

www.mirror.co.uk

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 disappearanc

He arrived on Wednesday, 9/14 & was discovered missing on Friday, 9/16. Missing more than a week in a remote desert. This is not looking like a good outcome

From the article:
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.
....
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.
....
“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.”
....
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.

 

[Kaykedi]

Interesting update. I wonder if the student is back in the UK?

 

[realanastasia]

Cops quiz graduate who travelled with missing Brit professor last seen in desert

Chilean police confirmed this weekend Tom Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer

www.mirror.co.uk

“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.

 

[5W's]

The area is desert it looks pretty flat, I suppose roling hills? Is there any CCTV footage outside of the guesthouse where Tom was staying? Hopefully there is. I wonder if the guest house can be seen from the observatory. And if so did CCTV have footage Tom walking after he was last seen?

 

[WingsOverTX]

La Silla Observatory site map

La Silla map and safety

La Silla map and safety

www.eso.org

Credit: ESO, the European Southern Observatory

Would be helpful to know which dorm he was staying at.

 

[5W's]

La Silla Observatory site map

La Silla map and safety

La Silla map and safety

www.eso.org

Credit: ESO, the European Southern Observatory

Would be helpful to know which dorm he was staying at. View attachment 368849

Large complex. By now all of these buidings would have been searched. I wonder if he went for a walk and was seen on CCTV, that's why they are looking in the desert. Maybe he went early in the morning like at the crack of dawn. IDK just some thoughts if he's not in the bungalow/guesthouse then this a possibility IDK. It would explain the student's statement that he saw him that night in the guesthouse heading off to bed.

 

[WingsOverTX]

Large complex. By now all of these buildings would have been searched. I wonder if he went for a walk and was seen on CCTV, that's why they are looking in the desert. Maybe he went early in the morning like at the crack of dawn. IDK just some thoughts if he's not in the bungalow/guesthouse then this a possibility IDK. It would explain the student's statement that he saw him that night in the guesthouse heading off to bed.

Cops quiz graduate who travelled with missing Brit professor last seen in desert

Chilean police confirmed this weekend Tom Marsh had not travelled alone to the observatory on the outskirts of the Atacama Desert, where he had been working as a visiting astronomer

www.mirror.co.uk

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.

RSBBM
I think they need to search again - particularly in the building/place where his keys were found.

Looking at the terrain, I would be very surprised that he purposefully left that large campus on foot. After all, he had been there before & I'm sure was very aware of the dangers of going out into the desert, especially alone.

At first I thought he might have left the campus on foot. The more I look at photos of the surrounding terrain, the more I am leaning toward foul play.

But who would want to hurt Tom? And why?

OTOH, thinking about the student he was traveling with assuming TM missed a scheduled meal because he was resting after a long journey to the observatory makes me wonder if there was a medical event that might have caused him to wander away. Sleepwalking? Sounds far-fetched I know but this is a very odd case IMO.

MOO

 

[Laughing]

The area is desert it looks pretty flat, I suppose roling hills? Is there any CCTV footage outside of the guesthouse where Tom was staying? Hopefully there is. I wonder if the guest house can be seen from the observatory. And if so did CCTV have footage Tom walking after he was last seen?

Please look at the images in post #3 above.

This is a multi-telescope observatory built on a mountain ridge.

The term 'desert' describes the low humidity & specific climate of the region.

Nothing, nothing flat about the area.

La Silla Observatory

La Silla was the first Observatory built by ESO and still in use today. In addition the infrastructure of La Silla is also used by many of the ESO Member States for targeted projects.

www.eso.org

The observatory is at an altitude of 7900 feet above sea level. Denver proudly calls itself the Mile High City at 5,199, Santa Fe is 7200 feet above sea level.

There is less oxygen in the air at these altitudes. Some people suffer from altitude sickness in Denver & my family's home, Santa Fe. This gentleman had used the observatory previously, and theoretically was prepared for the environment.

This is a High Desert, a unique, beautiful, delicate, and unforgiving environment.

Foul play is a real possibility, but succumbing to the environment is another.

As Paul Coelho writes in The Alchemist:

"You must love the desert, but never trust it completely. Because the desert tests all men: it challenges every step, and kills those who become distracted."

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[realanastasia]

The observatory is at an altitude of 7900 feet above sea level. Denver proudly calls itself the Mile High City at 5,199, Santa Fe is 7200 feet above sea level.

There is less oxygen in the air at these altitudes. Some people suffer from altitude sickness in Denver & my family's home, Santa Fe. This gentleman had used the observatory previously, and theoretically was prepared for the environment.

You know, this makes me wonder if perhaps the missing man had ever suffered from COVID-19 and, if so, if this could possibly have been his first post-illness trip to a high-altitude destination. That is to say, even if Dr. Marsh had previous experience living/working at this observatory, if his respiratory function was in any way impaired when he arrived this time 'round (which could be due to previous COVID-19 infection or any number of other things!), it's possible that he not have been quite able, physically, to follow his "normal" routine when out on a scientific expedition.
Hoping that Dr. Marsh will be located safely or, barring that, that his family will have the comfort of knowing he passed away while performing the work he seems to have loved.

 

[5W's]

Please look at the images in post #3 above.

This is a multi-telescope observatory built on a mountain ridge.

The term 'desert' describes the low humidity & specific climate of the region.

Nothing, nothing flat about the area.

La Silla Observatory

La Silla was the first Observatory built by ESO and still in use today. In addition the infrastructure of La Silla is also used by many of the ESO Member States for targeted projects.

www.eso.org

The observatory is at an altitude of 7900 feet above sea level. Denver proudly calls itself the Mile High City at 5,199, Santa Fe is 7200 feet above sea level.

There is less oxygen in the air at these altitudes. Some people suffer from altitude sickness in Denver & my family's home, Santa Fe. This gentleman had used the observatory previously, and theoretically was prepared for the environment.

This is a High Desert, a unique, beautiful, delicate, and unforgiving environment.

Foul play is a real possibility, but succumbing to the environment is another.

As Paul Coelho writes in The Alchemist:

"You must love the desert, but never trust it completely. Because the desert tests all men: it challenges every step, and kills those who become distracted."

jmho ymmv lrr

I was only commenting on the look of the place. I realized when I originally posted that it is high altitude. And I also realized that Tom should for all intents and purposes be acclimatized to the altitude because as you also mentioned that he has been there before. I was also enjoying the beautiful view of the place. It really is nice, I like it. The altitude I don't know if personally I would like actually physically being up that high.
Here's an image that gives us an idea of what you are trying convey. Where I saw the view it did look flat but that was only a partial image. This image is partial but it give an better understanding than the image I saw.

La Silla Observatory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[5W's]

You know, this makes me wonder if perhaps the missing man had ever suffered from COVID-19 and, if so, if this could possibly have been his first post-illness trip to a high-altitude destination. That is to say, even if Dr. Marsh had previous experience living/working at this observatory, if his respiratory function was in any way impaired when he arrived this time 'round (which could be due to previous COVID-19 infection or any number of other things!), it's possible that he not have been quite able, physically, to follow his "normal" routine when out on a scientific expedition.
Hoping that Dr. Marsh will be located safely or, barring that, that his family will have the comfort of knowing he passed away while performing the work he seems to have loved.

The thing is wouldn't Dr. Marsh realize he has to take precautions beforehand, though, because it could possibly harm him. If it was me I know I would. Precautions such as not doing much strenuous activity, using an oxygen inhaler, etc.

 

[StillDiggin]

British professor 'argued with PHD student' before vanishing in Chile

Thomas Richard Marsh, a 61-year-old astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen on September 16 near the remote astronomical observatory La Silla in Chile.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[WingsOverTX]

British professor 'argued with PHD student' before vanishing in Chile

Thomas Richard Marsh, a 61-year-old astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen on September 16 near the remote astronomical observatory La Silla in Chile.

www.dailymail.co.uk

FROM THE ARTICLE:
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.

'I met this student two weeks ago during a visit to the University of Warwick.

'As colleagues we've decided not to pressure him. He's a PHD student, a young person. You can't imagine being involved in a situation like this, of having to report someone missing and give a statement, especially about someone who is your mentor.

'The first thing that comes to mind when myself and colleagues speculate on what might have happened is a walk.

'The observatory has very nice walking areas around it and is a great place to see sunrise and sun fall from.

'Our first conclusions were that he went off for a walk and didn't return but it's madness to think that someone can disappear just like that and no one knows anything.'