Mr Belea was separated from his son at Stockwell station in London (Picture: Met Police/PA)

The family of a missing tourist last seen on Tuesday after becoming separated from them on the tube have spoken of their ‘living nightmare’.

Vasile Belea, 63, from Romania, was last seen at Stockwell underground station in south London at around 10am while travelling into central London with his son Ciprian.

They got split up on the northbound platform when the younger man managed to get on to a train, and the doors closed before Mr Belea could join him.

He is 6ft with grey hair and was wearing blue jeans, a long dark black jacket and a black flat cap.




His daughter-in-law Olimpia Belea told the Evening Standard: ‘He has no knowledge of London and has never really travelled on an underground system before.

‘It is only his second time in Britain. He first came for our wedding in September. Most of the time I take him around by car. And he doesn’t speak any English at all.

‘It is a living nightmare. You don’t expect it to happen to anyone. It was just a normal day. It was my husband’s birthday.

The 63-year-old was visiting his family in Britain (Picture: Met Police/PA)

‘They were heading to church in Kensington and were planning to spend some time at the museums before meeting up with me.’

Mr Belea was carrying £30 in cash and an Oyster card but was without medication for his arthritis or a passport.

When Ciprian was separated from his father he got off at the next stop and returned to Stockwell but Mr Belea was not there.

He waited for 90 minutes before returning home to call police and family hunted all over Stockwell and Victoria looking for him.

Mrs Belea said: ‘There was no sign of him. He just disappeared. We don’t know where to look as he could be anywhere.’

Mr Belea’s daughter Alina, a consultant psychiatrist who has lived in Britain for almost 10 years, said: ‘Initially when he disappeared I was quite comfortable because he is a resourceful man and he is talkative.

‘I didn’t worry. But now it has been three days and we have no idea where he sleeps or eats. He has made no contact – that is what puzzles us.

‘He must be so scared and alone. We are worried sick for him but we are firmly convinced he is alive and well. He is such a warm, loving person. It is a blessing to be around him.’