Theo Hayez: Missing backpacker’s family speak out as new clue uncovered
The heartbroken family of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez have spoken of their “indescribable” pain as they mark his 20th birthday. It comes a fortnight after new details emerged about the tourist’s disappearance.
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The family of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez have spoken of their heartache marking another birthday in his absence as new details emerge about his disappearance.
The tourist has not been seen since the eve of May 31, 2019, when he was asked to leave Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay, northern NSW.
He was aged 18, staying at the Wake Up! backpacker hostel and wearing a black hooded jumper, tan pants, black shoes, a watch and a grey Puma hat when he mysteriously vanished.
Theo’s mobile phone was recorded moving away from the hostel and through dense bushland towards Cosy Corner on Tallow Beach in the dark of night before it last pinged near the Cape Byron lighthouse on June 1.
His Puma hat was found in bushland near where his phone had pinged at Tallow Beach more than a month later but police called off the search and referred the case to the NSW Coroner after failing to locate him.
He was due to fly back home to Belgium just a week after his disappearance.
On Tuesday, Theo’s parents Vinciane Delforge and Laurent Hayez released a statement from Belgium speaking of the “indescribable” pain of enduring his September 29 birthday in his absence.
“We will never stop looking for our boy and searching for answers. Like many other families of long-term missing people, the process is long and complex,” the statement says.
“There is so much to be done and, while we struggle with enduring birthdays and other missed milestones, we must also navigate the coronial process and the ongoing investigation.”
The statement also paid tribute to the army of volunteers that have been working tirelessly to trace Theo in the aftermath of his disappearance.
“We have been blessed with an incredible team of volunteers and professionals working pro bono.”
The statement comes just a fortnight after volunteers released images of a never-before-seen watch worn by Theo when he disappeared.
The group Looking for Theo Hayez are asking for help to identify the make, brand and model of his digital wristwatch.
“We recently found out that the black watch that Theo was wearing wasn’t the one we thought but a new one rather similar,” a post on the page reads.
“The display (digital only, no hands) and the straps are different. Please have a look at this photo. Can you help us to identify the make, brand and model?”
Anyone with information about his disappearance should contact theohayezinfo@gmail.com