Madeleine McCann's parents reveal agony of facing 13th Christmas without daughter

Madeleine McCann's parents (pictured in 2012) are clinging onto hope of finding their daughter
AFP via Getty Images
Ewan Somerville11 December 2019

Madeleine McCann’s parents have spoken of their heartbreak at spending their 13th Christmas without her.

Kate and Gerry McCann, both 51, revealed a list of the things they miss most about her daughter, including “holding her, hugging her”.

They wrote the family has “not lost hope that we may get to celebrate another Christmas” while pleading with the world: “Please help us get her home.”

The three-year-old disappeared from an apartment 12 years ago in Praia da Luz, Portugal, as her parents dined with friends on holiday.

Madeleine McCann - In pictures

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Ahead of the festive season, Mr and Ms McCann, a top heart doctor and former GP from Leicestershire, wrote an emotional Facebook post titled “reasons we miss Madeline”.

“Holding her, hugging her, kissing the top of her head,” they wrote. “Lying next to her. Our complete family of five. Everything. We miss her. Please help us get her home."

They added: "Thank you for being by our side as we continue to search for Madeleine,” and promised to look for Maddy "for as long as it takes".

The agony-ridden parents also have 15 year-old twins Sean and Amelie.

Last month the search to find her, Operation Grange, was boosted with £300,000 funding after a £12m investigation to no avail.

Netflix series The Disappearance of Madeline McCann recently depicted the case, with Jim Gamble, the senior detective who led the UK’s first probe into Maddy, saying “there’s huge hope to be had” for the youngster.

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