Human bones at Port Macquarie linked to missing European tourists

Human bones that were discovered by a spear fisherman on a north coast beach last month are believed to belong to a French backpacker who went missing alongside his English schoolmate while swimming in February.

• European schoolmates feared dead in NSW
• Two backpackers missing at beach

Human bones found on a north coast beach belong to one of two backpackers who went missing from Port Macquarie earlier this year.

DNA from a backpack belonging to Frenchman Erwan Ferrieux matched three bones found by a fisherman at Flynn's Beach last month. Another small bone was found yesterday.

DNA analysis has also confirmed that one of the bones came from a DNA comparison from the vehicle used by the two missing backpackers at the time, said North Coast Commander, Superintendent Paul Fehon.

Hugo Palmer (left) and Erwan Ferrieux, both 20, went missing while swimming in February. Picture: Instagram

The pair were schoolmates from England and had been travelling the world. Picture: Instagram

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“We believe from those tests that it belongs to Erwan Ferrieux. We are still waiting for DNA from France to make the identification conclusive,” he said.

The bones found in June were at the southern end of the beach and yesterday’s bones were recovered at the northern end. The latest bones will also be tested to confirm if they match those found earlier.

Erwan Ferrieux.

The 21-year-old was with his friend Englishman Hugo Palmer, 20, when they both went missing from nearby Shelly Beach on February 21.

“We believe they probably went for a swim and then got in trouble,” Superintendent Fehon said.

Their clothing and other items were found on the beach, the morning after the pair was believed to have gone for a swim.

The rental car they were travelling in was found in the car park along with their passports and other documents.

Despite a massive search on both land and in the water, no trace was found of the couple.

Originally published as Human bones at Port Macquarie linked to missing European tourists