Face of Nation : The family of Theo Hayez have thanked volunteers for their support as search efforts for the missing backpacker continue, bolstered by the arrival of Belgian police at the weekend.
The Hayez family held a special event at the Byron Bay Golf Club on Sunday to thank volunteers helping in the ongoing search, with Theo’s father Laurent saying the support had stopped the family from being “on the couch with tissues crying every day”.
The 18-year-old backpacker was last seen on CCTV walking through the popular seaside NSW town after leaving the Cheeky Monkey’s bar about 11pm on May 31.
The last “ping” from Theo’s phone was recorded on June 1 in the area around the Cape Byron Lighthouse.
Belgian police are expected to accompany NSW Police as observers in searches around Byron Bay in coming weeks after arriving on the weekend.
Theo’s cousin Lisa Hayez welcomed their arrival, saying the family hopes they can help find answers.
“It’s going to help us, the most people on the case the better it is,” she told reporters in Byron Bay on Sunday.
“I know they’re going to do it. If the Australian police and Belgian police work together it’s going to be faster and everything. That’s the point.”
