The father of a Belgian backpacker gone missing in Australia a fortnight ago has arrived in Byron Bay to assist in efforts to find the young student, a police spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
The young man's father has arrived in Australia and "is cooperating and assisting the police in any way he can," Samantha Long, spokeswoman for the New South Wales police said.
The police will keep relatives informed regarding the progress of the search, which is set to continue during the weekend.
Théo Hayez, an 18-year-old student from Auderghem, was last seen on May 31 as he was leaving an establishment in Byron Bay, a popular destination for backpackers in Australia.
Belgian federal police launched an appeal for public assistance as efforts to find a young Belgian backpacker gone missing in Australia continue with the help of drones, sniffer dogs and lifesavers.
Detectives and inspectors "are seeking all available information" and "are studying surveillance camera footage."
While the Byron Bay community was very keen to assist in the search for Hayez's, police asked volunteers to stop searching this weekend, fearing that traces and evidence of the young Belgian could be lost.
Money raised via crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has already totalled more than €35,000, an amount that was to help Hayez' relatives pay for the flight to Australia.
The Brussels Times
