The father of Norwegian student Marie Ostbo, who went missing on a beach in Sedgefield, last Wednesday, has broken his silence saying he is hopeful that his daughter will be found.
Ostbo was last seen on Myoli Beach on the Garden Route, approximately 100 metres away from the backpacker’s lodge, where she and a group of fellow international students were staying.
Her father, Atle Ostbo, told the Norwegian Dagbladet that they have not given up hope. He fears his daughter may have been attacked, but is still hopeful that she will be found.
Ostbo told the newspaper that the group of students had gone for a walk in the early evening but returned to the backpacker’s lodge when the weather took a turn for the worst. Marie, however, had stayed outside to take photographs with a new camera she had purchased especially for the trip.
The group only realised that Ostbo had not rejoined them after 30 minutes, when they wanted to leave for supper.
“I think she may have been attacked because she would never put away shoes‚ caps and mobile phones on the beach and bathe with the camera she just bought‚” said her father.
According to Craig Lambinon, a spokesperson of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), there have been no further developments since the discovery of Ostbo’s belongings on Mloyi Beach.
Ostbo was wearing blue jeans and a white shirt at the time of her disappearance.
National Sea Rescue Institute Wilderness, Community Police, and South African Police Service are leading search efforts.
An ongoing search operation, headed by the SA Police Services, has found no sign of missing Marie Ostbo and the search and investigations are ongoing… https://t.co/rTQtQEejdi pic.twitter.com/xXBMPRpBYu
— NSRI (@NSRI) April 19, 2018
Picture: NSRI