Greg Monks vanished after leaving friends on first night of Albufeira trip – body discovered in Cerro da Aguia area where he was last seen on CCTV
A body has been discovered at the bottom of a ravine in Portugal as the desperate week-long search for missing Scottish father Greg Monks appears to have reached a heartbreaking conclusion.
Portuguese firefighters are currently working to recover the body from the treacherous terrain in the Cerro da Aguia area, west of the popular resort of Albufeira, where the 38-year-old Glasgow man was last spotted on CCTV.
Respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha reports that Portugal’s elite Policia Judiciaria force is at the scene coordinating the grim recovery operation.
While police have yet to formally identify the body, the discovery comes after an agonising week for Greg’s devastated family, who had flown to Portugal to join the massive search effort.
THE FINAL HOURS
Greg Monks, a plant mechanic from Glasgow, had arrived in the Algarve on Tuesday, May 27, for what should have been a five-day celebration ahead of his friend’s wedding, where he was due to serve as groomsman.
The 38-year-old was last seen at 3:27am on Wednesday 28 May near Cerro de Aguia area – walking in completely the wrong direction from his accommodation after telling friends he was heading home from their night out.
According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha, the body was found “a long way from the spot where he was last seen” at the bottom of a ravine in the same general area.
The newspaper reports that “all scenarios are open and the possibility of an accident has not been ruled out.
FAMILY’S DESPERATE SEARCH
Greg’s heartbroken sisters Jillian and Carlyn had made emotional appeals for help finding their brother, with Jillian telling Sky News: “He deserves to be found, he deserves to be looked for, we need him home.
“As a family, we’re worried sick,” Carlyn had said. It’s just so unlike him, but myself and Jillian are just trying to hold each other up back home.
The family described Greg as “a real family man”, with Jillian adding poignantly: “I know that if he could phone us or reach out to us, he would, he wouldn’t put us through this.”
MASSIVE SEARCH OPERATION
The search for Greg had become a major operation involving:
- His parents Lynne McGloin and Gordon Monks flying out to Portugal
- His girlfriend Nicole Ashleigh Kelso joining the search
- Local residents using drones to scan the rugged terrain
- A GoFundMe page raising over £20,700 to support search efforts
- A dedicated Facebook page coordinating volunteer searchers
Just yesterday, the family had revealed that the investigation had been taken over by Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria – the country’s elite criminal investigation unit typically brought in for serious cases.
TREACHEROUS TERRAIN
The area where Greg was last seen – and where the body has now been found – presented enormous challenges for searchers.
The Cerro da Aguia region is characterised by:
- Rocky outcrops and steep cliffs
- Dense vegetation
- Multiple ravines and drop-offs
- Rough, uneven terrain
It was more than an hour’s walk from the bustling Albufeira Strip where Greg had been enjoying his first night with friends.
WRONG DIRECTION MYSTERY
One of the most troubling aspects of Greg’s disappearance was that CCTV footage showed him walking in completely the wrong direction from his accommodation.
Greg was last spotted by CCTV surveillance cameras at around 3.27am on Wednesday morning, walking along Rua da Gralheira near a villa known as Villa Aguia Mar.
This location was several miles west of the resort and in the opposite direction from where he should have been heading, leading to fears he had become disoriented in the darkness.
STAG DO TRAGEDY
Greg had been part of a group celebrating a friend’s upcoming wedding. According to reports, “The group of lads were understood to be in King’s Cross karaoke bar in Albufeira’s nightlife hub before Greg became separated from the group.”
His friends, who spent the remainder of their trip searching for him before returning home devastated, had last seen him around 2am when he said he was heading back to their accommodation.
“They are all devastated and shocked by what has happened,” a family member had said. They spent the rest of the time there searching for him and trying to help. They have all returned home today, Greg should be back home with them.”
OFFICIAL RESPONSE
Portuguese authorities have yet to make an official statement about the discovery, with the recovery operation still ongoing.
The case reference number 1159/25.OGBABF had been circulated widely as part of the search effort, with police urging anyone with information to call +351 289 590 790.
The British Embassy in Portugal had been supporting the family throughout the ordeal, with Greg’s sister Jillian revealing they were arranging meetings with authorities.
A COMMUNITY IN MOURNING
The discovery comes as a devastating blow to the tight-knit community of family, friends and volunteers who had rallied together in the search for Greg.
The dedicated Facebook page “Missing Person Greg Monks – Albufeira, Portugal” had become a focal point for coordinating search efforts and sharing updates, with hundreds of people offering support and assistance.
Greg was described as 6″1 tall with a slim build, blue eyes, dark hair and a full trimmed beard. He had a strong Glaswegian accent and was last seen wearing dark blue Nike shorts and a t-shirt.
As firefighters work to recover the body from the ravine, a family’s worst fears appear to have been realised, bringing a tragic end to a holiday that should have been a joyous celebration.
The formal identification process will now begin, but for Greg’s loved ones, the agonising wait for answers may finally be over – though not with the outcome they had desperately hoped for.
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