A British tourist who went missing in an Israeli desert two months ago left behind a trail of Bible pages and notes referencing the story of Jesus fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.
Devout Christian Oliver McAfee, 29, disappeared on November 21 while cycling solo along the popular Israel National Trail near the small town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev desert.
A number of his possessions, including his bike, laptop and wallet, were found near the trailleading search teams to believe he got lost on the trail.
Devout Christian Oliver McAfee, 29, was last seen on November 21 while cycling solo along the popular Israel National Trail near the small town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev desert
Raz Arbel, one of the leaders of the volunteer search team searching for McAfee, said: 'He seems to have been doing all kinds of ceremonies that we don't really understand.' Pictured: A page from the Bible believed to have been left by McAfee
But now, according to a report in The Telegraph, new evidenceincluding a makeshift 'chapel' in which he is said to have performed 'ceremonies'points to the possibility McAfee suffered from religious delusions known as Jerusalem Syndrome.
People with the syndrome have been known to split from groups and head to holy places, while others have been known to suffer psychotic episodes and begin to think they are Biblical figures.
It is now feared McAfee, a former gardener from Northern Ireland who was living in Ess3x, could have gone into the desert intentionally.
Raz Arbel, one of the leaders of the volunteer search team searching for McAfee, said: 'He seems to have been doing all kinds of ceremonies that we don't really understand.'
Pictured: The Makhtesh Ramon Crater near the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev desert
Jerusalem Syndrome often affects people who already have mental health problems. McAfee has had depression in the past.
Psychiatrist Dr Moshe Kalian said 'it certainly sounds like' McAfee has suffered from the syndrome.
In a wide-scale search, Israelis have sent drones and dogs in a bid to find the missing Briton.
It is now feared McAfee, a former gardener from Northern Ireland who was living in Ess3x, could have gone into the desert intentionally
On November 22, an unidentified man was captured near a military base by a CCTV camerawith officials confident it could have been McAfee.
His fate is unknown, but some members of the search team believe he could have hitchhiked away from the area.
Police said there was no evidence of foul play, adding that 'he could have managed to make his way to a road in the south and possibly got into a vehicle'.
A missing persons case was opened on December 27 for McAfee after his family raised the alarm on Christmas Eve.
On a Facebook page set up by friends to help find McAfee, a statement explained: 'At the end of October, Ollie went on a cycling trip to Israel to explore and visit the Holy Land.
'He intended to stay for five weeks and return at the beginning of December, but missed his return date.'
It concluded: 'Please join us in praying and declaring God's goodness over this situation, and pray that Ollie will be found safe and well, as well as expressing our thanks and gratitude to the hard and significant work put in by all the different groups in Israel.'