ARVADA, Colo. — What was supposed to be a fun trip across Europe for one man from Denver has become a worrisome search.
Alex Tyk, 31, was last seen early Thursday morning in Lisbon, Portugal's capital city. His family told 9NEWS that he was on a six-week trip and had already been overseas for two weeks. Tyk visited London, Paris and did some rock climbing in Fontainebleau before moving onto Lisbon.
"He's one of those people that is so full of life," Lynn Tyk, Alex's mom, said. "He exudes it."
Lynn said her son was traveling alone but met a group in Portugal from Wild Walkers Pub Crawl. She said he then ended up at Urban Beach Club, one of Lisbon's nightclubs where he was last seen around 3:30 a.m.
He was supposed to meet a friend in Barcelona the next day, Lynn said.
"It's the hardest thing ever," she said. "Hardest thing I've lived through in my years because you don't know. You just don't know."
Tyk's family said he was staying at a place called Selena's Secret Garden and never checked out. Lynn said all of Tyk's luggage is still there "including his passport."
"So, he can't leave the country," Lynn said. "He's got to be there."
Tyk's disappearance made international headlines, and online conversations to find him continues to grow.
"The internet's amazing," Lynn said. "It's amazing."
One Reddit user who lives in Lisbon created fliers written in English and Portuguese for people to share.
On them, Tyk is described as "outgoing and friendly" with no medical conditions or disabilities. His mom said he has no record of mental illness either.
The flier urges people with any information to send it using the e-mail address FindAlexLisbon@gmail.com.
"The language barrier is too much," Lynn, who only speaks English like her son, said.
Lynn's daughter traveled overseas after Tyk's disappearance to find her brother. The family said she and Tyk's friend -- whom he was supposed to meet in Spain -- are in Lisbon looking for any answers.
Lynn said she, too, is ready to travel to Portugal at a moment's notice.
"It's every mother's worst nightmare," she said. "You know, can't eat, can't sleep."
Lynn said she's still holding onto hope and chooses to believe her son is alive and "can feel her love" from thousands of miles away.
"I want to keep positive and I want to be able to send that love out there for him," Lynn said.
While her daughter continues her search in Portugal, Lynn and the rest of Tyk's family said they hope they can do their part by circulating his pictures and information as wide as possible.
They're asking everyone to share the fliers already posted online as well as in this article hoping Tyk's case gets even more attention.
"I'll do anything for him," Lynn said. "I miss him. I want to have him back."
If you have any information about Tyk's disappearance, you're asked to e-mail FindAlexLisbon@gmail.com.
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