Belgian police to travel to Byron Bay to continue search for missing backpacker
The mother of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez has landed in Australia as Belgian police announce plans that they are planning to send a team to assist with the search.
Theo’s father has been in the country for nearly three weeks, appealing to the public for information that could help in the case which has so far baffled investigators, after the 18-year-old backpacker vanished on May 31.
Local police called off the physical search on Saturday amid heavy rains and searches have yet to resume.
Belgian police are heading to Australia to help in the search and investigation, 10 Daily reported.
NSW police confirmed to Yahoo News Australia that Belgian authorities would assist in an “observer capacity” when they arrived.
“Investigators from Tweed Byron Police District and the NSW Police Force SCC Homicide Squad have been working closely with their Belgium counterparts,” a police spokesperson said.
“Belgium Police have sought authority to travel to Australia to support the ongoing investigation in an observer capacity.”
Locals are continuing to piece together the final known movements of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez as they blanket Byron Bay with new posters.
The 18-year-old was last seen on CCTV walking through the seaside NSW town after leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar about 11pm on May 31.
On Tuesday the manager of the bar spoke publicly for the first time about witnessing the Belgian teen before he disappeared.
Cheeky Monkey's manager Colm Brennan said Theo had been at the tourist bar for just a few hours and only had two drinks before he was asked to leave.
"He sat down, he chatted, he had a dance and that was it," Mr Brennan told AAP on Tuesday.
"He left okay, he just walked down the street."
The last "ping" from Theo's phone was recorded on June 1 in the area around the Cape Byron Lighthouse.
Searches have failed to locate his clothing or phone, which volunteers feel could be key to learning Theo's fate.
Mr Brennan, himself a former backpacker, said Theo's disappearance from the holiday hotspot was "very sad".
"He was just starting out - just 18 - and he's vanished."
Locals had hoped the bar's regular photographer may have snapped the young man in the crowd but the photographer did not work that night.
Volunteers distributed pamphlets, posters and letters around Byron Bay on Tuesday.
They are also asking the local community for any CCTV footage which may include Theo.
With AAP
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