A dedicated group of Byron Bay locals have brought in cadaver dogs to search for missing Belgian tourist Theo Hayez.
The group, unofficially dubbed 'Team Theo', have been combing bushland near Cape Byron Lighthouse for clues to the whereabouts of the 18-year-old backpacker who was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar at 11:00pm on May 31.
Volunteer group Search Dogs Sydney have now joined the search, bringing two rescue dogs trained to find human remains.
Search Dogs Sydney brought cadaver dogs to search bushland around Cape Byron for missing Belgian teenager Theo Hayez on Thursday and Friday
The search team with rescue dogs Rufus (left) and Boof (right) who are trained to find human bones went through Arakwal National Park to Tallow Beach in Byron Bay
One of the search dogs at Byron Bay yesterday
The dogs and their handlers scoured bushland in the Arakwal National Park including Tallow Beach on Thursday, and are to resume the search today.
A Facebook page set up to help find the missing Belgian told volunteers put out a message on Friday morning, telling locals to send 'positive vibes' their way.
'They have been covering the areas of bush that have been too dangerous or dense for the volunteer searchers to go into,' said Facebook page Looking for Theo Hayez.
'They'll be out again today, so keep an eye out for them around Byron and send all your positive vibes their way.'
Theo Hayez, 18, was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey's bar at 11pm on May 31. If you have information, call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or Byron Bay police on +61 2 6685 9499
NSW Police announced on July 3 that they had called off their land, sea and air searches, but local volunteers have refused to give up.
After searching bushland again last Sunday, Team Theo called for help from a volunteer cadaver dog team from Sydney.
Team Theo volunteer Sheri D'Rosario said her group had done its best to cover the bushland around Byron on foot, but the dogs might be able to reach parts they couldn't.
'There's obviously been some really tricky areas where it's either been too steep or the bush has been particularly dense,' she said.
Search Dogs Sydney president Chis D'Arcy said a rescue dog can cover the same area as up to 40 humans.
The very act of searching can bring comfort to desperate families whose options are running out, he said.
'They turn to the police. But once … the leads get fewer and fewer, the families do get desperate,' he told The Australian.
Byron Bay locals 'Team Theo' have refused to give up the hunt for the missing backpacker
'Team Theo' having lunch at a previous search on July 21, on Belgian National Day
Search Dogs Sydney president Chis D'Arcy, pictured in 2016, said a rescue dog can cover the same area as up to 40 humans
'They then start to run their own searches, but that can be quite dangerous.'
Mr Hayez was last seen on CCTV walking through Byron Bay after leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar on the last day of May.
Staff at the Wake Up! Hostel where he had been staying raised the alarm when they found his belongings including his passport untouched on June 6
Mr Hayez had arrived in Australia late last year on a working holiday visa and was due to fly home a week after his disappearance.
Theo's father Laurent Hayez came to Australia where he spent six weeks searching for his missing son, before returning home empty handed in July.
The investigation into the whereabouts of Theo Hayez is ongoing.
If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or Byron Bay police on +61 2 6685 9499.
