One of Britain's most enduring missing person mysteries, which began nearly half a century ago, has been thrust back into the spotlight as police make a fresh appeal for information.
The Vanishing in Antibes
In September 1976, Sarjit Kaur Mann, a 20-year-old mathematics student at Birmingham University, was on a family holiday in the South of France. The young woman, who had moved to Birmingham from India with her family, was enjoying a road trip with her brother and sister-in-law in the glamorous resort town of Antibes on the French Riviera.
During the holiday, Sarjit met a group of three British women on the beach. She decided to stay with these new acquaintances to visit local museums and go sightseeing, while her family returned to the United Kingdom. Sarjit was never seen again.
A Chilling Phone Call and a Lifelong Enigma
The case took a sinister turn just days later when Sarjit's family received a brief, devastating phone call. A woman identifying herself only as 'Jane' stated, "Sarjit drowned. We are sorry, we couldn't do anything," before abruptly ending the call.
West Midlands Police, who have never closed the case, described the women Sarjit met as white and in their late teens or early twenties. Despite extensive investigations over the decades, the caller has never been identified and Sarjit's body has never been recovered.
A Fresh Appeal After 50 Years
PC Shaun Reeve, from the force's Missing Person Investigation Unit, emphasised that the investigation remains open. "We are keeping an open mind in regards to what happened to Sarjit, and we believe someone must know something," he said.
He made a direct appeal to the public: "Despite the vague descriptions and time lapse, we are hoping somebody remembers this encounter with Sarjit, who would be around 70 years old now. West Midlands Police would like to know the identity of these women who we are hoping can help, or from anybody with vital information."
This case stands as one of the UK's longest-running missing person investigations. Anyone with information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is urged to contact the investigation team directly on 0121 626 7003.
