'My son is in grave danger': Father's plea for missing backpacker Theo Hayez, 18
Police are searching Byron Bay for the 18-year-old, who has not been seen since 31 May.
Monday 17 June 2019 21:28, UK
The father of a missing Belgian backpacker broke down while telling reporters his son is in "grave danger".
Theo Hayez, 18, had been travelling in Australia for eight months when he disappeared and was last seen leaving a Byron Bay nightclub on 31 May.
His father, Laurent Hayez, made an emotional public appeal, pleading: "I promised Theo's little brother, Lucas, that I would bring his brother home. Please help me keep my promise to him."
Police have described the teenager's disappearance as "baffling" but are investigating whether an encrypted message sent from his Whatsapp account could provide a clue.
Mr Hayez said: "We know that Theo used WhatsApp the night he disappeared. We understand the politics about confidentiality and respect that.
"However, this is a question of providing assistance to a person in grave danger.
"It is vital that investigators get access to Theo's WhatsApp account without delay."
He added: "Every minute counts."
The 18-year-old had been due to return to Belgium when he was reported missing on 6 June.
The alarm was raised after he failed to return to his hostel and could not be contacted.
He was last captured on CCTV buying alcohol from a liquor store in Byron Bay before heading to Cheeky Monkeys nightclub.
Mr Hayez has not been seen or heard from since.
Authorities have been scouring two areas near the centre of Byron Bay, based on his last phone records, and his father flew to Australia last week to take part in the search.
Homicide detectives are now involved in the investigation.
Police superintendent Dave Roptell said WhatsApp's owner Facebook had been contacted for access to the missing teenager's account.
In a statement, WhatsApp said it was assisting police "in accordance with applicable law and our terms of service" and added it "cares deeply" about the safety of users.
The company cannot access encrypted conversations within the app, but end-to-end encrypted platforms have limited information about users they collect.
Police say it would be quicker to access the messages if other members of the missing backpacker's WhatsApp group came forward.
Australia is considering introducing laws which would force technology companies such as Facebook and Google to unscramble encrypted messages sent by terrorists and other criminals.