Officials confirm burnt out van belongs to missing WA surfers

A senior Mexican government official has confirmed a burnt out van with two charred bodies inside was the vehicle driven by missing Australian surfers Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman.

Lucas and Colman's girlfriends are travelling to Mexico with their hair samples and dental records to help assist with DNA tests on two charred bodies found inside the van.

Grave fears are held for Mr Lucas and Mr Coleman who appear to have been preyed on in violence-riddled Sinaloa state where murders, violent robberies and kidnappings are common.

DNA from one of Lucas' distinct dreadlocks and other personal items belonging to the men, as well as dental records, will be used to determine if the bodies are the Australians.

MISSING IN MEXICO

BODIES FOUND IN BURNT VAN
CLOSE MATES CHASED WAVES

The pair was last seen driving through dangerous cartel territory where their burnt-out van was found with two bodies near the town of Navolato.

The town is located in the state of Sinaloa, home to the same cartel once headed by most-wanted fugitive Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman.

The pair were headed to Andrea Gomez, Mr Coleman's girlfriend, in the city of Guadalajara when they failed to arrive on November 21.

"They hurried to get here and I think they travelled by night," Ms Gomez told the Associated Press.

"I had told them of insecurity, but never told them of the horrible things that could happen. I feel a little responsible for that."

The US Department of State warns travellers to avoid leaving major roads.

[[img:30222569|caption=Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman were last seen with this distinctive blue and white campervan with Canadian plates.|size=O]

“One of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organisations is based in the state of Sinaloa, and violent crime rates remain high in many parts of the state,” the state department website warns.

“Travel off the toll roads in remote areas of Sinaloa is especially dangerous and should be avoided.”

Navolato has recorded one of the highest rates of violent crime in the whole of Mexico in recent years and is considered one of the most dangerous places in the country.

The news of the van's discovery comes as Mr Lucas girlfriend revealed he had plans to ask her to marry him, she revealed on Facebook.

"Just found out when and how Dean Lucas was gonna propose to me!" Mr Lucas' girlfriend Josie Cox wrote on Facebook.

The pair, from Golden Bay south of Perth, departed Topolobampa on November 20 in a Chevy campervan.

They were due to arrive in Guadalajara the following day to meet up with Mr Coleman’s girlfriend Andrea Gomez but did not arrive.

Their last confirmed sighting was when they got off a ferry at Topolobampo, on the Gulf of California, on November 20 at 10pm.

In a joint statement released by the Lucas and Coleman families, they acknowledge the Chevy van has been found by Mexican authorities but they are still waiting on further information on their sons' whereabouts.

“The families and partners are aware the van in which they were traveling has been located by Mexican authorities and that a tragic event has occurred.

“The families hold deep fears for the safety of their sons but stress that they are still waiting for details to be confirmed,” they said.

“Until such time that the authorities confirm what has happened, the families respectfully ask the media to not speculate further.”

Family members of Mr Lucas and Mr Coleman will travel to Mexico in the coming days and are working with Australian consular officials and Mexican authorities.

Mr Lucas' girlfriend Josie Cox, has been active on Facebook and Twitter in recent days to gather social media momentum to track down the men.

Last night she posted on Facebook that loved ones "have had some distressing developments which we have not yet had confirmed".

"We would appreciate any updates on information if you know anyone that has any, but ask that the Lucas and Coleman family have some privacy at this time.

"We thank everyone for their kind messages and efforts to find our boys."

"They have been reported to authorities and are now officially classed as missing persons. Authorities are working with us to investigate and begin protocol.

"Their family and I are devastated and would kindly urge that you share this as far as you can and on any relevant social media sites or pages to help us find our boys.

"I have included as many photos as possible of them and their van. The van is very distinctive and has one red back door."

A social media campaign has been launched to try to find the men, with concerned friends using #FindDeanandAdam to share images of the pair.

The men were driving a blue and white campervan with Canadian registration plates.