A heartbroken mum believes a sighting of her son missing since July asking for a cigarette in a Scots town must mean he is in the country.
Fiona Boutlege, from the Isle of Man, has urged her son George to get in touch after leaving his home on July 6 and making no contact since.
But fresh hope has been sparked by two recent sightings of the 33-year-old in Irvine, North Ayrshire.
Fiona said family were desperately worried that George, who has mental health issues, had run out of money and was sleeping rough.
She said: "He just went on the boat and disappeared.
"The last CCTV of him is leaving Lancashire station.
"He would walk endlessly when he was in the Isle of Man so he could have walked anywhere.
"He didn't have much cash and his account hasn't been used so his money must have ran out.
"We are just desperate to know he is ok."
Fiona has received reports from people in Irvine of a man matching George's description.
He was seen at a children's playpark on one occasion and asked someone for a cigarette on another.
Fiona said that sadly as the first sighting was from September, the CCTV could now not be checked back.
She added: "It sounds a lot like him, he is distinctive and has a distinctive walk.
"He doesn't hang around with big groups of people and is a bit of a loner.
"If anyone has any information then please do get in touch.
"If George reads this I would just ask for him to please call us, we are worried sick and just want to know you are alright."
The Isle of Man is not part of the UK and has its own government and benefit agencies.
But Fiona said none of the authorities on the island had been contacted about him claiming on the mainland.
At the time George left there was no lockdown on the island and there is still only limited measures.
Fiona added: "He doesn't use the internet or like mobile phones so he maybe thinks the island is the same as the UK.
"He was well known on the island, it's a small island and everyone knows each other and he was well liked.
"The lady who made the sighting in Irvine said she was 99% sure it was him."
Anyone with any information on George can report a sighting here
Or you can email Fiona at: boultbee@manx.net
