Lighthouse glows in memory of missing backpacker Theo Hayez

The anniversary of the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez has been marked by the illumination of the Cape Byron Lighthouse.

Laurent Hayez with Theo at age three.

Theo Hayez was just a boy in his father’s arms at the Belgian wedding of his godfather.

Fifteen years later — exactly a year ago last night — Hayez would vanish without trace from Byron Bay on an Australian backpacking holiday as an 18-year-old.

The anniversary was marked in Byron by the lighting of the ­famous Cape Byron Lighthouse in orange, Hayez’s favourite ­colour.

His family and a network of friends and supporters around the world could only hope it would help light the way to the discovery of what happened to him.

In Belgium, Hayez’s shattered father, Laurent, on Sunday shared a photo of Theo in his arms as a blond-haired three-year-old.

The picture was taken at the Brussels wedding of Laurent’s best friend, Jean-Philippe Pector. Laurent was one of the best men and his young son was page boy.

Theo Hayez. Source: https://www.facebook.com/theo.hayez

Mr Pector now lives at Apollo Bay in Victoria’s Otway Ranges, where he has been co-ordinating search efforts for Theo Hayez.

He said the lighthouse event was a special moment on a tough day. “It will be really heartwarming for the family. It means a lot,” Mr Pector said.

“I cannot imagine the emotional state they will be in but I’m sure it will be something that will help them and ease a bit of the pain.”

Byron Bay resident Sheri D’Rosario has been relentless in leading local searches for Hayez and said it was a “pretty emotional day”.

Ms D’Rosario and a core group of Byron volunteers made a raft of flowers and floated it out into the ocean in their own tribute to Hayez on Sunday.

“As it gets dark tonight it will really hit home that it will be a year, that it was this time last year something terrible happened,” Ms D’Rosario said.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service approved the lighthouse event on the condition it wasn’t publicised in advance, due to concerns about crowds gathering at a time of COVID-19.

It was put on by North Coast Events, with images from a drone and a ground camera live-streamed.

Hayez was tracked by his family via his mobile phone to Cosy Corner at Tallow Beach, beneath the lighthouse cliffs, before the trail went cold.

The disappearance was the subject of The Australian’s six-part investigative podcast The Lighthouse.

NSW police issued a statement on Sunday acknowledging the anniversary.

“Detectives are continuing their inquiries as they prepare a brief of evidence on behalf of the NSW Coroner,” the statement said.

“Police are actively engaged with the NSW Coroner’s Court as well as Theo’s family and friends here in Australia and in Belgium to ensure answers are provided to Theo’s loved ones.

“Officers would like to particularly thank and acknowledge the support of the volunteers and Byron Bay community members who have assisted over the past 365 days in the search for Theo.”