Fears grow for Londoner missing in Rio de Janeiro

A British national has been missing without any belongings for 10 days after going on holiday in Brazil's second-biggest city, Rio de Janeiro.

Denis Kopanev, originally from Russia, was last seen leaving his accommodation on 9 June at about 20:30 local time (00:30 BST).

The 33-year-old, who lives in Southwark, stopped responding to his friends and missed an internal flight to Sao Paulo on 11 June.

His personal effects, including his passport, were found at his Airbnb.

He had been due to meet a friend visiting the country from America, and the two had been in contact.

Diego Garcia Blum said Mr Kopanev "was really excited" about the trip and that upon his arrival in Rio, "he was very happy, showing me around and sending me pictures".

Mr Garcia Blum had messaged Mr Kopanev to arrange dinner, and getting no reply, messaged him again.

He said: "I got no answer and he didn't show up for dinner.

"I thought maybe his phone was stolen but he hadn't replied for a whole day, and he would have been able to get a new phone by that time."

At this point Mr Garcia Blum sounded the alarm to all his friends saying, "something is deeply wrong here."

Footage from the night shows Mr Kopanev leaving the gates of his accommodation, wearing a beige jacket and trousers and a baseball cap.

His friends say his phone has remained off since, with his last known location being the west side of Lagoa Rodrigo de Feritas.

Since then little information has emerged.

Mr Kopanev's mother Olga said "there are no words to describe the feelings of despair, anxiety, fear, concern - and hope - that parents feel at this moment in their life.

"Denis is a caring son with a kind soul. He likes travel, sports, music, reading and good jokes, like most of us."

Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark said the missing man "needs to be found urgently".

A spokesperson for the Met Police said Brazilian police were leading the investigation, and are working with the Met, the Foreign Office, Interpol and other international organisations.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]