Mystery after nurse missing for 10 days is found alive in her car boot

Published on Friday 26 December 2008 23:00

A NURSE who had not been seen for more than ten days was found alive yesterday in the boot of her car.

Magdeline Makola, who is originally from South Africa but lives in Livingston, was found in North Lanarkshire by officers from Lothian and Borders Police who were investigating her disappearance.

Last night, Ms Makola was being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Her car was found in Airdrie, where it had been spotted being driven after her disappearance.

The 38-year-old had last been seen on the morning of 15 December, when she finished a shift at the cardiology ward of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

The alarm was raised by colleagues when she failed to appear for her next shift three days later, although she had spoken to friends the previous evening. They said she would not have missed a day's work without giving an explanation.

When police searched her home, they found her bag, with her uniform and packed lunch ready, as if about to go to work.

The house was neat and tidy and she had left her passport and bank cards, but her car was missing.

Earlier this week, police revealed that the vehicle had been used in the Airdrie area and had also been driven on the M8 since the time she disappeared.

Anyone who had seen the car in the days since her disappearance was urged to come forward immediately.

Ms Makola lives alone in the Howden area of Livingston.

Police had said they had been growing increasingly concerned for her safety, because she had not been in contact with any friends or colleagues, or with her mother, who lives in Pietersburg, South Africa, or any other relatives.

Friends in Edinburgh said she appeared happy and did not seem to have any personal problems.

After revealing that the missing nurse had been found, police last night launched a fresh appeal for information about her disappearance and sightings of her car, which was found parked in Meadowside Place, Airdrie, yesterday lunchtime.

They particularly want to hear from anyone who had seen the red Vauxhall Astra, registration Y295 SRS, being driven in the Central Belt since 15 December.

A police spokesman said: "Magdeline was discovered just after midday by officers from Lothian and Borders Police. At the moment, this inquiry is at its very early stages, and we need to establish the exact circumstances of how she came to be in the boot of the vehicle.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have seen Magdeline since she went missing last week to contact us.

"We believe that this vehicle has been driven in the Chapelhall area of Airdrie, and in Glasgow city centre, and we want anyone who thinks they may have spotted it to get in touch.

"Anyone with any other information that can assist our inquiries should also contact us as soon as possible."

Ms Makola moved to Scotland from South Africa six years ago and is now a British citizen.

A spokesman for Ms Makola's employers at the royal infirmary, NHS Lothian, said: "As there is a police investigation ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment."