Bones of missing backpacker Erwan Ferrieux found off Australian beach
Written by News on 15/07/2019
Bones found in waters off a beach in Australia are believed to be the remains of a Frenchman missing since February, police have said.
Erwan Ferrieux, 21, was last seen with British tourist Hugo Palmer, 20, five months ago near Port Macquarie, a popular tourist town around 385km (240 miles) north of Sydney.
Police later discovered their rental car in the beach’s car park with several personal items inside, including travel documents, raising concern for the pair’s welfare.
Several bones were found off an east coast beach nearby last month, and police said testing had confirmed their worst fears.
“We believe from the DNA comparisons that they belong to Erwan Ferrieux,” Superintendent Paul Fehon told reporters in Port Macquarie.
He said another bone was found on Sunday and that it had also been sent for forensic analysis to determine whether it was from either of the missing men.
“This bone is from another part of the anatomy,” Mr Fehon said.
Mr Ferrieux and Mr Palmer, from East Grinstead in East Sussex, arrived in Australia in November last year.
Australia is a popular destination for tourists of all ages and budgets, and attracts many young backpackers.
Police have also been searching for another missing backpacker, 18-year-old Belgian Theo Hayez, who has not been seen for more than a month.
Hayez disappeared after leaving a bar in Byron Bay, around 765km (475 miles) north of Sydney, on 31 May.
(c) Sky News 2019: Bones of missing backpacker Erwan Ferrieux found off Australian beach
