Distraught mother of missing Metford teenager Zac Barnes pens open letter to her son

Karen Gudelj tells her 18-year-old son that his family and friends are shattered while his boss and workmates look forward to having him back on the tools.

Zac has not been seen since running off from friends at Thornton on November 13 wearing only boardshorts and a singlet.

“I know how much you love your family,’’ Ms Gudelj says in the letter.

“If you can’t home please please please just let us know somehow.

“Reach out to someone. There are lots of people you can trust.’’

A heartbroken Ms Gudelj told Fairfax Media on Thursday that Zac’s friends were handing out posters, which had been printed for free by a local company, in a bid to find their friend.

She said she feared her son was too scared to contact family or friends and reiterated her message to him that there was no problem or issue too great to overcome.

“I never realised until now how many people adore you. Witnessing your friends crushed as much as we are is overwhelming,’’ she said.

Ms Gudelj also wrote about of her family’s pain at not knowing what had happened to him despite repeated pleas on social and mainstream media.

“Your little sisters ask about you everyday,’’ she said.

“Mick is a complete mess he misses you so much. Jaz is looking every day. Liam can’t be believe you’re gone.

“Al says come back to work, Marty checks in regularly and says ‘what can I do to help’, Julz your second mum is frantic and hasn’t stopped looking for you.’’

Ms Gudelj said Zac could be identified by a tattoo of a VB logo on his right calf, and asked anyone who may see him to contact police instead of approaching him.

Zac was last seen wearing a faded blue singlet, dark blue board shorts and work boots.

A large air and land search at Thornton earlier this week failed to find any trace of Zac. 

Anyone who has information is urged to contact Maitland police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.