Authorities in Seychelles end search for missing German tourist

The logo of the Seychelles Police (Police)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Police officials in Seychelles have called off the search for a German man reported missing on Praslin late last month, a spokesman said Thursday.

Authorities had launched an extensive search by sea, land and air to find Norbert Franz Fleischmann.

Even though physical search stopped on Monday this week, the police will remain on alert and will give due attention to any fresh information that may come up with regards to Mr. Fleishmann," police spokesperson Jean Toussaint said.

Fleischmann, 58, went missing on Praslin, Seychelles' second-most populated island, on January 28, and the search party deployed included police officers, police dogs, fire and rescue officers, Zil Air -- a local helicopter company -- the marine police and ordinary citizens.

Fleischmann’s wife told the police that her husband left Anse Lazio at around 11:30 am on Saturday 28, and walked to Anse Georgette, on a hiking trail he had planned. The wife said that was the last time she had seen him.

The German couple was staying at the Cote d’Or chalets, a self-catering tourist establishment on Praslin, since January 24 and was due to leave on January 31.  Mrs. Fleischmann and two family members who had joined her while the search was taking place, left Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, last Thursday.

The family conveyed their appreciation to all that has been done to try and locate their loved one.