Last Saturday marked six years since Théo Hayez went missing. Hayez, a Belgian tourist, was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay at approximately 11pm on May 31, 2019.
Théo’s father Laurent, spent much of the next two years in Australia searching for answers.
The Echo spoke to Laurent on Saturday at his home in Brussels where he prepared for a quiet day. ‘It’s been six years of unanswered questions. Six years of missing him every single day. We remember him every day. His laugh, his voice and his big smile remain so fresh in our memories.’
Missed
Laurent and his family and friends from across the globe want to highlight Missed, an Australian charity that has supported them from the start.
Missed’s objective of creating awareness for missing individuals has broadened to include awareness for the associated issues, the focus of providing practical support has expanded to include emotional support.
‘Loren O’Keeffe, founder and CEO of Missed, has been supporting us and many other families in distress since the first day of Theo’s disappearance,’ said Laurent.
‘In addition to the moral support, this organisation has come to supplement the support of the public, but also to fill part of the void left by the authorities in managing many practical aspects such as communication, contact with the media, and many aspects that a distressed family is confronted with when a loved one disappears…
Missed in Motion event
‘We are doing Missed in Motion for our Théo and for all the missing people and their loved ones. We will be walking 56,000 steps during Missing Person’s Week (in August) to represent the 56,000 people reported missing each year in Australia.’
Laurent and his family have always been deeply grateful to the local community for their help and support in both looking for Théo, and keeping in touch beyond the search.
‘On this sad day of remembrance, I would again like to thank the Byron Bay community for their thoughts and warm messages, which have been reaching us since the early hours of this morning,’ he said.
‘This afternoon, we’ll be getting together with friends and family in a public park in Brussels, where an oak tree has been planted in memory of Théo and the missing children, for an afternoon-tea picnic.
‘You’ll all be with us despite the oceans that separate us.’
You can support ‘Théo’s Team’ by visiting: missedinmotion.raiselysite.com/t/theos-team.
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