The Public Security Police (PSP) has confirmed that the search for the missing French couple has now ended.
“Following the search actions carried out on the Caminho da Abelheira in São Vicente, where two bodies were found whose characteristics and clothing pointed to the couple in reference, the Public Security Police activated on the 9th of April a search of the locale which revealed various material belonging to the citizens in reference.”
The same note said that the PSP’s Mountain Search, Rescue, Relief and Rescue Brigade carried out technical searches on the escarpment, from the height of 320 meters to the area where the bodies were found last week, “where it was possible to find items of clothing belonging to the couple in reference, as well as a backpack with several personal belongings, including personally identifiable documentation.”
“Thus, even if we wait for the official confirmation of the identification of the bodies, the thesis of a probable fall on the route is accentuated, in an area that was found to be dangerous and difficult to access, causing them to fall about 140 meters on a very steep slope surrounded by vegetation,” said the PSP.
In conclusion, the PSP’s Madeira Regional Command also thanks “the collaboration of all the entities that collaborated in the search actions, namely the Regional Civil Protection Service, the Madeira Operational Command, the Judiciary Police, the National Maritime Authority, the National Republican Guard, the Forest Police Corps, the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters and SANAS Madeira, and also the collaboration of the media and the civilian population, in the indication of possible clues, evidence and testimonies, contributions that proved to be important in the definition of the search perimeters, in the location and recovery of the bodies and their personal belongings.”
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
