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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Lorraine King

Fiancee of Anthony Knott posts heartbreaking direct message to missing firefighter

The fiancée of a firefighter who vanished during a pub crawl with workmates has vowed not to rest until she knows what's happened to him.

Lucy Otto posted an emotional Boxing Day message on her Facebook page after her family were forced to endure Christmas Day without Anthony Knott.

The dad-of four from Orpington, Kent, was last seen on December 20 at The Lamb pub in Lewes, East Sussex.

He had been out with eleven London Fire Brigade work colleagues.

Ms Otto posted: "I’m coming to search for you again today, I won’t rest until I know what’s happened to you. PLEASE someone must know or have seen something!"

Lucy Otto has posted an emotional Boxing Day message on Facebook (facebook)

On the day of Mr Knott's disappearance Lucy had dropped him off at another pub at 12.30pm where his last words to her were "love you, bye".

"And then I drove off and that was it," said Ms Otto.

Several hours later, Anthony was seen leaving The Lamb at around 7.30pm.

However, there has been no trace of him - or CCTV sightings - since.

Anthony Knott was last seen on December 20 (Universal News And Sport (Europe))

His bank cards have not been used, nor has his phone since 7.20pm on Friday. It has been off since 1am on Saturday.

Ms Otto described her partner's disappearance as "a complete mystery".

She previously wrote on Facebook: "How can a man walk out of a pub and not be seen since.

"Three cars drive right past the pub in the minutes after as he walks out the door. He leaves at 19.16. The third car stops briefly, could this have been you? Do you have a dash cam you could check??"

The firefighter's disappearance is out of the blue (Sussex Police)

Police, search teams and volunteers have spent the past few days extensively searching for him, including watered areas.

His distraught family are beginning to fear the worse, but have stressed he had every intention of coming home.

Ms Otto said: "I've been asked if there was any indication of depression or worries or troubles but I've racked my brains; there is nothing he said to me that would make me think he was in that frame of mind."

And in a direct message to her fiance, she added: "If he is watching and you're worried and you're thinking, 'Oh I can't come home, this is too big now', honestly, you don't realise how many people want you back regardless of the situation you left in - if that is the case.

"So just come home, please just come home."

Anthony is also a semi-professional footballer for Orpington FC.

His team renewed an appeal on Boxing Day to find him on Twitter saying: "Day 6 - we will not give up. Keep sharing, keep looking and keeping hoping."

Sussex Police have thanked volunteers for joining professional search teams but urged them to now leave the effort to emergency services.

Anthony has been described as a family man (Universal News And Sport (Europe))

Chief inspector Anita Turner said: "We have been extremely grateful for such a response and thank everyone who has supported efforts to find Anthony.

"But we also have to consider public safety and would now ask that the ongoing search is left to the emergency services.

"We nevertheless continue to welcome any information that people may have as to Anthony's possible whereabouts and especially, details of him being seen once he left the Lamb.

“Despite it being Christmas, we are committed in our searches to find Anthony.

Anthony was last seen at the Lamb pub (Google)

"Extensive house-to-house enquiries have been conducted and we are urging anyone who may have seen Anthony or have CCTV footage in this area to make contact with us.

"There is no information to say Anthony left the Lewes area and our searches will continue to focus in this location.

“There are increasing concerns for his welfare and there is a possibility Anthony may have come to harm but there is no current information to indicate that Anthony’s disappearance is due to crime.

Concerns are growing for the dad-of-four's welfare (Sussex Police)

“This will be an extremely difficult time for Anthony’s family and friends and we are seeking information and answers they so desperately need.”

Anthony is white, approximately 6ft tall, of medium build and with medium-brown, short and gelled hair.

He was wearing a black long-sleeve top, a dark denim suit-style jacket, dark denim jeans and black shoes.

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