The mother of a missing man has pleaded for two people who handed in his black rucksack to come forward.
Lalitha McLennan says she’s had sleepless nights and feels “numb” since Lester (20) disappeared. The pair are visiting from England.
Her son took a bus from Belfast to the Giant’s Causeway at 9.30am on Friday.
He was subsequently reported missing and a search was launched on Saturday.
Ms McLennan said: “He was excited to see the Causeway.
“He’d been up the West Highland way in the summer.
“He likes hiking and natural spaces and was really keen to see it.”
An image released of two men who handed in a backpack belonging to Mr McLennan on Saturday
The last confirmed trace from his phone was around 5.30pm at the popular tourist attraction.
She is calling for the two men who handed the bag in at the visitors’ centre to come forward, as well as anyone else who used the cliff trail on Friday.
She said: “The police told me today that there is CCTV footage of the pair who handed in the bag. It looked like the pair were in walking gear.
“It would be really helpful if we could track them down and know exactly where they found that bag.”
She added: “Lester was wearing a really long grey woollen coat, so he would have looked quite distinctive.
“I think he was also wearing a square brown leather bag over his shoulder.”
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The coastguard, community rescue teams, PSNI and search and rescue dogs are conducting the hunt.
A coastguard helicopter was deployed on Sunday morning to help assist the operation.
Sean McGarry of the Community Rescue Service in Coleraine said weather conditions were generally good, but daylight hours are limited due to the time of year.
He added: “At the minute there are different search teams involved.
“We’re searching areas that haven’t yet been done, spreading out a bit further every time.
“There is no indication at this moment and time where he might have gone, other than the fact we do know he made it to the Giant’s Causeway.”
Lester McLennan missing from the Giant’s Causeway area since Friday November 1
Due to the rugged nature of the terrain at the Causeway, rocky outcrops can pose a risk to those taking the cliff-top trail.
Mr McGarry urged members of the public wanting to lend a helping hand to refrain from joining the search effort.
He said: “There are cliffs, water and land, so it’s a mixed bag.
“However, all of our guys and the search teams are very well experienced and equipped.
“The conditions are pretty good. We only have a limited amount of daylight, but we will continue searching in the night.”
The PSNI had earlier called on the two men who handed Lester’s backpack in to get in touch so they could pinpoint exactly where it was found.
It added: “Police are appealing to Lester or anyone who may have seen him on November 1 or 2 to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 76 02/11/24.
“Lester is a white male, 6ft 3in tall, of slim build, with light brown hair. He was wearing black glasses, light beige trousers with a dark belt, walking boots, a long grey coat to below the knee and a dark zip-up jacket. Lester was also carrying a black backpack.”