Aberdeen man Connor Leslie feared ‘kidnapped in Vietnam’ found 22 hours later in the middle of nowhere with no phone
Connor Leslie vanished at 2.30am this morning - local time - after a night out in Asia
THE parents of a Scots tourist feared abducted in Vietnam told of their joy as he was found.
Connor Leslie, 23, was out with pals in Hanoi when it is understood they had a bust-up with a cabbie over a taxi fare.
His two friends leapt out when the 2.30am row escalated but the driver sped off with Connor inside.
He was found 22 hours later dumped in the middle of nowhere with no phone after a frantic search.
Offshore worker dad Scott, 61, of Newtonhill, near Aberdeen, said: “I’m ecstatic, exhausted and elated.
“You see it on TV and in the papers but until it happens to you, you don’t know what it’s like.”
He added: “We don’t have the full story yet. But Connor had lost his phone so he had no clue where he was.
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“I’m not even sure how he got back to the apartments.”
Scott said one of Connor’s friends took a mobile phone photo of the cabbie before he drove off.
He said: “He gave it to the police but didn’t get very far at first, but then they went to the embassy and they got on to it.
"Apparently the driver has been arrested. I think the police knew him.
“I don’t know if he’s done this before, but if he has, why is he still driving a taxi?
“Connor’s friends have been really good and his brother Ross has been in constant contact with them, phoning various other people and places. He’s been a big, big help.
“I’ve told my son I’ll pay for them all to go out for a meal and a few drinks or whatever they want when they get back.”
Connor’s mum Jill said her other son was phoned at 10pm on Friday to tell him his brother was missing.
She said: “We got another call at 6am yesterday.
“After 12 hours we were very worried and we thought something was wrong. He was missing for almost 24 hours but I knew he had a good set of friends with him.
"It’s something I would not wish on anyone.”
Connor’s ordeal began at 8.30pm UK time on Friday on the first day of his stay in the country. His disappearance sparked a desperate social media appeal to find him.
His cousin, also called Scott, said yesterday: “Connor is an outgoing guy and can handle his drink.
“From what I know, they paid an extortionate sum to the driver and he asked for more.”
Connor’s friend David Andrew, also in Vietnam, wrote on Facebook: “Thanks to everyone who shared this, the response has been massive and we’re all very grateful.
“We’re relieved to say Connor has been found safe and well.”
A Foreign Office source said Vietnamese authorities had confirmed Connor has been found safe.
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