Aviemore rallies round to try and find missing man Rodrigo Falcon
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Searches are continuing for missing Aviemore man Rodrigo Falcon with the community rallying round to help the efforts by joining specialist teams in the sub-zero conditions.
Some businesses have closed their doors so that their staff can help with the hunt for the 33-year-old, while others opened their doors to provide free refreshment for those out looking.
More than 100 friends and supporters have been out on the days that have followed Mr Falcon’s disappearance.
They have been assisting police officers, dog handlers and mountain rescue teams with a helicopter also called in.
Night-time temperatures have been well below freezing with -14C recorded in Aviemore in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mr Falcon left The Vault nightclub in the centre of Aviemore at around 2am on Sunday and the last known CCTV images show him passing the Tamanna Indian curryhouse at around 3.10am – the opposite direction to Callart Road.
Friends have said that Mr Falcon was in good spirits the night he vanished and that it is out of character for him not to be in touch.
Good mate Scott Fleming – who shares his home in the village’s Callart Road with Rod, had been out with him on Saturday night.
“He had been drinking but he wasn’t overly intoxicated," said Mr Fleming.
"He was fine, was happy. We were having a good time.
“It was a regular night out, everything was normal.”
Rod occasionally sleeps at the homes of other friends so there were no immediate concerns for his wellbeing on Sunday.
But the alarm was sounded when he failed to show up at work at 2pm on Monday at the Pine Marten Bar + Scran at Glenmore which is ran by Mr Fleming and his partner Katie Jachacy.
“Rod has worked with us for a fair few years now,” said Mr Fleming. “He’s from Argentina originally but has travelled around everywhere.
“He landed in Aviemore though and absolutely fell in love with the place.
“I can tell you Rod is one of the kindest and most gentle people I have ever met. He’s a great friend to everyone who will allow him to be and loyal to a T.
“He’s very well-known and popular all through the valley for his excellent banter and general kindness.
“Rod loves skiing and meeting up with his friends to do pretty much anything. I’d say he was more of a brother to me than a friend. He lives and works with me and we always have a great laugh.
Mr Fleming continued: “Rod always always gets to work no matter how late he stays out the night before.
“We all love him at work and that’s why we have been closed and most of us cannot or will not be going back to work until we find him.
“I think the sheer amount of people that are out searching for him day and night speaks to that and to how great of a community we really have.”
Mr Fleming praised the community’s response to find Rod.
He has been in regular contact with his friend’s family in Argentina who are “very thankful and appreciative of everything everyone is doing”.
He said: “They are really worried but are staying hopeful that we are going to find him safe and sound.”
The Winking Owl, Kinrara Distillery, Coffee Pot, and the Old Bridge Inn are among those offering refreshments and helping the search.
