British journalist missing in Costa Rica

(BRUSSELS) - A Brussels-based British journalist is missing having been last sighted on holiday in Costa Rica almost two weeks ago, his family said Monday.

Michael Dixon, 33, was last spotted leaving the Villas Macondo hotel in the popular surfers' resort of Playa Tamarindo on the morning of October 19, having travelled there on his own after spending a week in New York.

The British citizen was working for RISI, a US business-to-business information provider for the forestry industry.

Concerns among family and friends rose when he failed to report for work for the first time in seven years.

"We can confirm that a British national was reported as missing in Tamarindo Beach, Guanacaste, Costa Rica on 21 October 2009," said a British Foreign Office spokeswoman.

"We are providing consular assistance to the family."

Brother David Dixon told users of a Facebook group set up to help find him: "We have searched in the air, we have searched by foot and we have searched by boat.

"Still no sign of Michael. The search continues."

Described as 1.7 metres tall (almost 5 foot seven inches) and weighing 65 kilos (10 stone three pounds), Dixon was wearing shorts and a T-shirt when last seen.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact findmichaeldixon@gmail.com.