The Lars Mittank running man video shows a German tourist sprinting through a Bulgarian airport and into a nearby forest in July 2014, never to be seen again. The surveillance footage captures Mittank's final known moments as he ran from the airport terminal, climbed a fence, and disappeared into the trees after yelling "I don't want to die here" in a doctor's office. This case became known as the most famous missing person story on YouTube after the video went viral with millions of views.
You might have seen this disturbing footage circulating online and wondered what really happened to this 28-year-old man. The video raises more questions than it answers, showing someone in clear distress but offering no explanation for why he fled or where he went.
Over 11 years later, the mystery remains unsolved despite numerous reported sightings and countless theories. This article examines the facts surrounding the case, breaks down what the video actually shows, and explores the latest developments as of 2026.
Lars Mittank Running Man Video Overview
The surveillance footage from Varna Airport captured Lars Mittank's final known moments on July 8, 2014, showing him sprinting out of the terminal building and disappearing into nearby woodland. This video became crucial evidence in understanding his last actions before vanishing completely.
What the Video Shows
The airport security cameras recorded Mittank wearing a yellow shirt and jean shorts as he arrived at the terminal carrying his suitcase. You can see him entering the airport facility and eventually making his way to meet with the airport doctor.
The most striking footage shows what happened after his medical consultation. Mittank suddenly bolted from the doctor's office, leaving behind all his belongings including his luggage, cell phone, and passport. The video captures him running through the airport terminal at full speed.
His body language in the footage appears panicked and distressed. You can observe him moving with urgent, erratic motions as he exits the building. The surveillance video went viral on YouTube, with the original upload reaching over 16 million views by 2018 before being deleted.
Timeline of the Recorded Events
The video footage documents a sequence of events that occurred within a short timeframe. Mittank first appears on camera arriving at Varna Airport on the morning of July 8, 2014. He then proceeded to his appointment with airport doctor Kosta Kostov.
During the medical consultation, the doctor cleared Mittank as fit to fly despite his recent eardrum injury. At this point, Mittank became visibly agitated and shouted "I don't want to die here. I have to get out of here!" before fleeing the office.
The cameras tracked his escape route as he ran through the terminal. Within moments, he exited the building and continued running across the airport grounds. The final frames show him climbing over a fence and heading toward a forested area adjacent to the airport property.
Location and Surveillance Details
The footage was recorded at Varna Airport in Bulgaria, located near the Black Sea coast. Mittank had been staying at the Color Varna hotel, which sits close to the airport terminal. Multiple camera angles captured different portions of his movements.
The surveillance system documented both interior and exterior areas of the airport. Interior cameras showed his path through the terminal hallways and waiting areas. Exterior cameras picked up his sprint across the tarmac and parking areas.
The video quality was clear enough to identify Mittank's clothing and general movements. The final camera positioned near the airport perimeter recorded him reaching the fence line and entering the wooded terrain beyond the airport grounds.
Background of Lars Mittank
Lars Mittank was a 28-year-old German man from Itzehoe who disappeared under mysterious circumstances while on what should have been a routine vacation with friends. His final hours were marked by increasingly erratic behavior and paranoid claims that people were trying to kill him.
Personal History
Lars Joachim Mittank was born in Berlin in 1986 and grew up in Itzehoe, a town in northern Germany. At the time of his disappearance, he was 28 years old and living what appeared to be a normal life.
He worked at a local power plant and maintained close relationships with his friends and girlfriend. His mother, Sandra Mittank, raised him and the two shared what she described as a special bond. According to German Police descriptions, he stood 5'11" tall and weighed 187 pounds with dark blond hair and a scar on his left forearm.
Before his disappearance, nothing in his background suggested any history of mental illness or erratic behavior. He appeared to be a typical young man enjoying life with his friends and family.
Vacation in Bulgaria
In early July 2014, you would have seen Mittank vacationing with a group of high school friends at the Golden Sands resort in Varna, Bulgaria. The week started normally, with the group relaxing and enjoying typical vacation activities.
One of his friends, Paul Rohmann, later recalled that they spent their time at the beach, swimming in the pool, playing football, and going to clubs. According to Rohmann's account, Mittank seemed relaxed and in good spirits throughout most of the trip.
The vacation took a dark turn on the night before they were scheduled to return to Germany. Mittank allegedly got into a fight with another group of tourists over football while his friends had already returned to their hotel room.
Injury and Medical Advice
The altercation left Mittank with injuries to his jaw and a ruptured eardrum. He told his friends that he had been punched in the face during the confrontation.
Mittank visited a doctor to have his injuries assessed. The doctor prescribed him the antibiotic Cefprozil to prevent infection and gave him crucial medical advice: he should not fly due to his ruptured eardrum.
This medical guidance meant Mittank couldn't board the flight home with his friends on July 7, 2014. While his friends departed for Germany, he checked out of the Golden Sands resort and moved to a nearby airport hotel called Color Varna. It was during his stay at this hotel that his behavior began to change dramatically.
Events Leading to the Disappearance
Lars Mittank's disappearance began with a physical altercation during his vacation and escalated through increasingly strange behavior that alarmed those around him.
Altercation and Injuries
Lars Mittank traveled to Golden Sands, Bulgaria with friends in June 2014 for a beach vacation. On the night of June 30, he got into a fight with other tourists over a football team dispute. The altercation resulted in an injury to his ear, specifically a ruptured eardrum.
A local doctor examined Lars and told him he couldn't fly home with his friends due to the ear injury. The pressure changes during flight could cause serious complications with his damaged eardrum. His friends departed for Germany on July 1 as scheduled, leaving Lars behind to recover.
He checked into the Viva Club hotel to wait until he was medically cleared to fly home. The doctor prescribed him antibiotics for the injury.
Behavior and Paranoia
Lars began exhibiting unusual and paranoid behavior shortly after his friends left. He called his mother and told her that four men were following him and trying to harm him or even kill him. He seemed frightened and convinced he was in danger.
He sent text messages to his mother asking her to cancel his credit cards. Lars claimed people were after him, though he couldn't clearly explain who or why. His mother tried to reassure him, but his paranoia continued to grow.
Hotel staff and others who encountered him during this time noticed his erratic behavior. He appeared anxious and kept looking over his shoulder. On July 7, he abruptly left his hotel and hid in a different location before eventually going to the airport.
Last Contacts Before Vanishing
Lars arrived at Varna Airport on July 8, 2014 for his rescheduled flight home. He met with a doctor at the airport for a medical evaluation to confirm he could fly. The doctor recommended he stay for further examination and went to prepare paperwork.
During this brief window, Lars suddenly panicked. He grabbed his bag and ran out of the medical office. Airport security cameras captured him sprinting through the airport and out of the building at approximately 2:00 PM.
You can see him in the footage running at full speed across the parking lot toward a nearby forest area. He left all his luggage behind and was never seen again after leaving the airport grounds.
Analysis of the Running Man Video
The airport surveillance footage captures Mittank's final known movements in striking detail, showing a progression from nervous pacing to a sudden sprint toward the wilderness. His body language and erratic behavior patterns have led experts to propose several explanations for his actions.
Behaviors Observed in Footage
The surveillance video from Varna Airport shows you several distinct phases of Mittank's behavior on July 8, 2014. He arrives wearing a yellow shirt and jean shorts while carrying his suitcase, appearing nervous as he walks through the terminal.
Inside the airport doctor's office, witnesses reported him acting increasingly agitated. When the doctor cleared him to fly, Mittank suddenly shouted "I don't want to die here. I have to get out of here!" before abandoning all his belongings.
The most analyzed portion shows him running at full speed through the airport terminal. His movements appear frantic and purposeful rather than confused or aimless. You can see him exit the building and continue sprinting across the parking area toward a nearby forest.
The final frames capture him scaling a fence and disappearing into the trees. His speed and determination suggest he believed he was fleeing from an immediate threat.
Expert Theories on Mittank's Actions
Medical professionals have focused on the ruptured eardrum Mittank suffered days earlier. Such injuries can affect balance, hearing, and spatial awareness, potentially contributing to confusion or panic.
The antibiotic Cefprozil he was prescribed has been scrutinized for possible side effects. While rare, some antibiotics can cause anxiety, confusion, or hallucinations in certain individuals.
Mental health experts have suggested the possibility of an acute psychotic episode. His mother noted he had no history of mental illness, but traumatic head injuries can sometimes trigger sudden psychiatric symptoms. The combination of physical trauma, sleep deprivation, and stress from being alone in a foreign country may have created a perfect storm for a mental health crisis.
Some investigators have considered that his fear might have been justified. If someone was actually pursuing him, his panic and flight response would be understandable rather than irrational.
Comparison to Other Disappearance Videos
Mittank's case stands out because you have continuous visual documentation of the moments leading to his disappearance. Most missing person cases lack such comprehensive footage.
The video quality and completeness differ from other famous cases. You can track his movements from multiple camera angles, creating a clear timeline of events. This makes his case one of the most famous missing person cases on YouTube.
Unlike cases where people simply walk away and vanish, Mittank's frantic running suggests acute distress. His behavior contrasts sharply with planned disappearances, where individuals typically act calm and deliberate. The fact that he left behind his passport, phone, and luggage further distinguishes this from voluntary disappearances.
The outdoor direction of his flight also differs from typical airport incidents. Rather than seeking help from security or other travelers, he chose to flee into an isolated area where cameras couldn't follow.
Online Attention and Impact
The Lars Mittank running man video gained millions of views across multiple platforms and sparked countless discussion threads. Amateur detectives and concerned viewers spent years analyzing the footage and proposing theories about what happened.
Rise to YouTube Fame
The airport surveillance footage first appeared on YouTube in 2014, shortly after Lars went missing. The video quickly accumulated views as true crime channels and mystery-focused creators shared it with their audiences.
By 2016, the footage had been viewed millions of times across different uploads. The clip became one of the most widely recognized pieces of missing person evidence on the internet. Several popular YouTube channels dedicated entire episodes to analyzing the video frame by frame.
The video's popularity increased again in 2019 when major true crime YouTubers revisited the case. New viewers discovered the footage and shared it across social media platforms. The running man clip became shorthand for discussing unexplained disappearances.
Public Reactions Over the Years
Early reactions focused on theories about what made Lars run. Viewers debated whether he was fleeing from real danger or experiencing a mental health crisis. The comment sections filled with speculation about drug use, conspiracies, and paranoia.
As years passed without resolution, frustration grew within online communities. Many viewers criticized Bulgarian authorities for their handling of the investigation. Others questioned why more wasn't done to track Lars's movements after he left the airport.
The case attracted armchair detectives who spent hours studying the video. Some claimed to spot suspicious figures in the background. Others argued the footage showed clear signs of psychological distress.
Social Media Investigations
Reddit became a hub for Lars Mittank investigations, with dedicated threads analyzing every detail. Users on r/UnresolvedMysteries and r/RBI compiled timelines, maps, and witness accounts. Some redditors contacted Bulgarian locals to search areas near the airport.
Facebook groups formed specifically to share information about the case. Members posted enhanced versions of the video and theories about Lars's direction of travel. A few groups organized virtual search efforts using satellite imagery.
TikTok brought new attention to the case starting in 2020. Creators made short videos explaining the mystery to younger audiences. The hashtag #LarsMittank gained millions of views as the platform's algorithm spread the content.
Ongoing Theories and 2026 Developments
New information continues to emerge about Lars Mittank's disappearance, though no definitive answers have surfaced. Mental health concerns, reported sightings, and official investigations remain the primary focus areas.
Speculations on Mental State
Medical experts who reviewed the airport footage suggest Lars may have experienced an acute psychotic episode or severe anxiety attack. His erratic behavior at the Varna Airport matches symptoms of paranoid delusions or drug-induced psychosis.
Some researchers point to his earlier head injury from the fight in Golden Sands as a potential trigger. Traumatic brain injuries can cause sudden personality changes and confusion. The antibiotics he was prescribed may have also interacted poorly with any substances in his system.
Key behavioral indicators observed:
- Repeated expressions of fear about being followed
- Refusal to board his scheduled flight
- Sudden sprint from the airport terminal
- Abandonment of all personal belongings
His mother reported he made paranoid phone calls before disappearing. You can hear the panic in accounts from witnesses who saw him that day.
Sightings and New Leads
Multiple unconfirmed sightings have been reported across Europe since 2014. A 2025 report from Germany claimed a homeless man matching Lars' description was seen in Berlin, but authorities could not verify this lead.
Bulgarian police received tips about someone resembling him living in remote mountain villages. None of these sightings resulted in concrete evidence. Digital face recognition technology has been used to scan social media and public cameras without success.
A hiker found a backpack in 2024 near the airport area, but DNA testing showed no connection to Lars. Local investigators continue to review old security footage using updated analysis methods.
Summary of Current Official Statements
Bulgarian authorities maintain that Lars Mittank's case remains an active missing persons investigation. The file has never been closed, though no major breakthroughs have occurred since 2014.
German officials coordinate with Bulgarian police but acknowledge the trail went cold years ago. The case lacks physical evidence beyond the airport video footage. No body has been discovered, and no ransom demands were ever made.
Official status as of 2026:
- Case classification: Active missing person
- Last confirmed location: Varna Airport, Bulgaria
- Evidence collected: Security footage, abandoned belongings, witness statements
- Current leads: Under investigation but not disclosed publicly
Police encourage anyone with information to contact authorities. You should report tips to either German or Bulgarian law enforcement agencies.
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