The rucksack belonging to Ronan Lawlor, the Irish backpacker missing in South America, has been found in a hostel in El Calafate in Argentina.
This is the hostel he stayed in before he crossed the border into Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
The 28-year-old from Durrow in Co Laois has been backpacking around South America since August and had been keeping in regular touch with family and friends until mid-November.
Mr Lawlor last updated his blog on 17 November. The following day he sent a text to friend Barney McCabe, which is the last contact Mr Lawlor's friends have had with him.
Relatives say the locating of his backpack is significant as it will help to focus the search effort.
Members of Mr Lawlor's family are flying to Argentina tomorrow and will travel to El Calafate to help with search effort.
