THE parents of a German man who flew to Ireland last month say they believe he came to the country of his dreams to take his own life.

Gunter and Iris Muffke are appealing for information on their 19-year-old son Thomas who left for Ireland without any warning and is now missing. Speaking from their home in Germany, Iris Muffke said he had already made two unsuccessful attempts at suicide. "We really worry about the idea that he may have gone to his dream country in order to say goodbye to his life. We have heard nothing of him," she said.

"He has never been to Ireland; he was in England already when he was 15 but something we only know as parents is that Ireland is the country of his dreams."

Thomas is understood to have travelled to Dublin from Leipzig on 11 September but from there his trail has gone cold. The family solicitor has been in contact with the German embassy in Dublin and they now hope publicity may help them trace his whereabouts. "Our German police department stopped the research because he is an adult, he is 19," said Iris.

"But we really care for the health of our son because there were two suicide att­empts already. He left Germany without saying any­thing and we found some kind of farewell letter. We simply get up every day and try to survive."

Thomas Muffke is 6ft 2in tall and wears glasses. When last seen he was wearing blue jeans and a green T-shirt with a shamrock. He may also be wearing a sports jacket and is probably carrying a small brown-green rucksack.

His family has asked anyone with information to contact them at imueffke@web.de or the German embassy. "There is only a small chance, but we are trying anything to find our son," his mother said.