Joshua Bishop, 23, was last seen in Lalor Crescent in Sunbury last week, about 9.30pm on Tuesday, May 27, by his housemate.

He was reported missing by his mother on Thursday, May 29.

The 23-year-old’s family broke down today as they issued an urgent plea for information while holding onto hope their son is still alive.

“Josh was really open with me. We had a really good relationship,” mother Kristie said as she held back tears.

“This is not something he would do unless he felt he had to.

“This is just… definitely out of character.”

The aspiring personal trainer’s physical and mental health had declined in recent weeks, his mum said.

“I could see he had changed in his face, his body. He’d always been into fitness and the dramatic weight loss was a real concern for me.

“I just want to know that he’s safe. Safe and alive, that’s all we want.”

Dad Travis said his son was “loved by everyone” and doesn’t believe he would have any enemies.

“Someone has to know something,” he said.

”We’ve had a lot of support, but we still haven’t got any closer to our son, which is hard.

“We’re all just praying that he’s safe. We’re hurting… we’re not coping.”

Bishop’s phone was last used at Broadmeadows Valley Park on the day he was last seen.

Neither his phone nor bank accounts have been used since.

Police have searched the park with drones and the dog squad, but have found no trace of him.

Bishop’s white Toyota Corolla was found in Ridley Street, Albion on Wednesday this week.

Police say associates have told them the car had been stolen, but this was not reported to police.

“The vehicle is believed to be parked there by Josh, at this stage it appears unrelated to the circumstances of him going missing,” Acting Detective Sergeant Matthew Wilson-Hawe said.

“It was left at that location prior to him going missing.”

Although Bishop was not previously known to police and has never gone missing before, investigators say they have been unable to rule out the possibility he was involved in criminal activity or that his disappearance may be suspicious.

“We need information. We are, this stage, at a loss. We don’t know where he is, we don’t know where he’s gone, we don’t know why he’s gone,” Wilson-Hawe said.

“From all accounts, his disappearance is incredibly out of character.

“The more time passes without us hearing Joshua or getting any information about his whereabouts, the more we believe his disappearance is likely to be suspicious.”

At this stage, detectives believe Bishop left his home by car.

“It appears he was picked up by someone, but we’re still exploring a bit further down the timeline to see if he was still with someone,” Wilson-Dawe said.

Bishop’s younger brother Riley described the 23-year-old as a selfless, protective older brother with a passion for health and fitness.

“He never put himself first, he always put the people he loved before him,” Riley said.

“He was very into his fitness. He wanted to start up his own personal training [business].  He just loved learning.”

Bishop is Caucasian and described as being of average build with short blonde hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a black singlet and tracksuit pants.