Missing 18-year-old kitesurfer not found in final Scheveningen search
Police say a final large-scale search with drones, sonar, divers and a helicopter has not found the 18-year-old kitesurfer who has been missing since Sunday 25 October. They are asking the public to report anything they see near the harbour walls.
Police carried out a final large-scale search at Scheveningen in The Hague on Thursday for an 18-year-old kitesurfer. They used drones, sonar, specialist police divers, tracker dogs and a helicopter. He has not been found. Police said the search took place in the most favourable weather and water conditions.
He has been missing since Sunday 25 October and was last seen at the Zuidelijk Havenhoofd, the southern harbour head. Police received a report on Sunday afternoon and started a large search with several emergency services. It was halted late that evening because further searching was not possible.
On Monday the search became a recovery operation. Police say they are seriously considering that he may no longer be alive. Emergency services searched around the harbour wall that morning, but stopped around midday because bad weather made it unsafe. The The recovery operation resumed on Tuesday morning.
Police say the most important thing for his family now is that he is found. They will keep looking out for him and will act, with other emergency services if needed, when leads or new signals come in. Police ask anyone who sees or finds something near the Noordelijk or Zuidelijk Havenhoofd or on Scheveningen beach to call 112 or 0900-8844.
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