Family of missing US tourist issues heartbreaking update amid search in Grenada

Family of missing US tourist issues heartbreaking update amid search in Grenada Elizabeth Waddell, 44, was last seen leaving her beachside Airbnb on Grenada to go for a swim - the alarm was raised when her friend found her towel abandoned beside the water The family of a tourist who went missing from a Caribbean island are flying home after days of searching for her. Elizabeth Waddell, from the US, was last seen on July 22 leaving her beachside Airbnb on the tropical island of Grenada to go for a swim. The 44-year-old was seen going for her solo swim at Grand Anse Beach around midday, but after entering the water and swimming beneath the jetty she vanished. There were reports of a possible sighting at around 5:30pm, just before the alarm was raised by her friend, Heather, who was vacationing with her on the island. Elizabeth’s husband Cailen said this week that the family had “done what we can here” and would now return to the US. “To everyone invested in Liz’s story: The family will travel home today, Friday, July 31. We have done what we can here, and the investigation will continue,” his post read. Her family members have said they were not ready to take part in interviews, but asked that people keep on sharing information about the case. “Without you, so many people would not know her story,” Cailen said, thanking members of the press for publicising his wife’s disappearance. He also thanked the people of Grenada for the genuine concern and support shown by everyone they had encountered there. “To the Grenadian people: Thank you so, so much. Every Grenadian we have encountered has warmly welcomed us and expressed so much genuine concern for Liz,” he said. There were also thanks for the hundreds of donors who contributed to a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of the family’s search efforts. In a deeply moving tribute to his missing wife, Cailen said: “On a more personal note, I am simply not ready to write about all the things Liz means to me. We met in 2003 at American Dance Festival in Durham and have been together ever since. “I realised this year that Liz and I have been together longer in life than we have been apart. We balance each other, and that makes for a great partnership." He added: “For now, both of our Instagram accounts, as well as Liz’s business and personal YouTube channels, are the best examples of who she is.” Alongside the touching message, Cailen shared a picture of his wife on top of a fake crocodile on a day out at an aquarium, which he said captured her “sense of fun”. “I was looking back through photos last night, and this picture popped up in my memories from exactly 22 years ago today,” he said. Elizabeth has been described by loved ones as an experienced traveler, an avid swimmer and adventurer who loved exploring new places. Police in Grenada are continuing to investigate her disappearance. “After careful and thoughtful consultation with family, local authorities, the U.S. Embassy, and others here in Grenada, I join authorities in believing there was no foul play,” her husband said in a statement. A friend told reporters how Heather went to look for her friend after she didn't return from her swim, only to find her towel by the pier. Her phone and other belongings were left at the Airbnb they had booked together for the three-week trip. A missing person’s report was filed when she failed to appear, and her family and friends flew out to search for her. The Grenada Coast Guard, divers and canine units have been searching the island’s southern coastline for several days, authorities said. Meanwhile, the FBI and the US Embassy have been alerted. The investigation into her disappearance continues.