By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 12:52 BST, 17 September 2025 | Updated: 13:04 BST, 17 September 2025
A British sailor who went missing last month during a solo round-the-world boat trip was last pictured ordering a kebab alongside his dog on Gran Canaria. James Nunan, 34, from Reading, set off on his dream voyage in March with his miniature Jack Russell, Thumbelina, aboard a boat called Kehaar that he had bought in Slovenia. Coastguards found the explorer's boat floating 100 miles from his last known location on the Spanish island with no signs of its owner on August 25 after his family reported him missing. Spanish police have now released an image of James ordering food at Rico Doner Kebab shop as searches for the missing Brit enter their fifth week. In the photo, which was captured by security cameras, James is shown wearing a blue T-shirt as he sits at the counter of the takeaway with his Jack Russell sat on his lap.Nunan, a builder affectionately known to family as 'Jemsie', had last been in touch with his mother, Maura Norton, 56, from Essex, on August 18.His bank card was used later that evening at 10:39pm at the kebab shop.Thumbelina had been accompanying him on his world trip and was found alive and well on the boat, which had its anchor raised and its engine off.His father and half-sister are understood to have relocated to the Spanish island while the search for James continues and have said they are not ready to give up. Missing Brit James Nunan was last pictured ordering a kebab from a restaurant on Gran Canaria The 34-year-old set off on his dream voyage in March with his miniature Jack Russell, Thumbelina, who he was pictured in the kebab shop with Searches for the missing Brit have entered their fifth week James' half-sister Nikita Goddard told the BBC yesterday that the family have been told of a new sighting of James on August 19 - the day after CCTV footage captured him in the kebab shop. She says he visited a police station at 06.15 am to report his missing passport. She said documents confirming this visit were discovered on his boat after it was found by coastguard. Nikita stressed this showed James was thinking clearly and warned against assumptions that he was 'drunk and fell off the boat'. She also told of how the last few weeks had been 'emotionally and physically exhausting and draining for the family', and said that 'everyone is trying to live on the hope that he's still alive'. His family met with the Spanish Civil Guard on Wednesday morning to learn more about the progress of the investigation, Spanish broadcaster Antena 3 reports. In the hours before he went missing, James also filmed himself on a Facebook Live broadcast while walking among a large group of people at Playa del Confital beach.James was then reported missing to Essex Police on August 22 by his mother after not having heard from him for several days. James' family have said they are not ready to give up their search The Brit was sailing around the world with his Jack Russel Thumbelina (pictured) who was discovered on his boat His boat was not found for another three days.A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'Essex Police added: 'We're in touch with James's family to provide support to them at this very difficult time.'We have submitted a number of queries through our international liaison officers and Interpol to Spanish authorities. At this stage we are awaiting response.'We dearly hope James can be located safely as soon as possible and we will continue to be in contact, alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with his family, and [will] help where we can.'
