The heartbroken friend of an English backpacker and his French companion who disappeared on an Australian beach has begged anybody with information about the pair to come forward.
Caraa Blackburn and Emily Powell were supposed to meet up with Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, both 20, for the trip of a lifetime later this week.
Police said the British girls were in Sydney when the men went missing, but almost immediately drove to Port Macquarie in northern NSW to help with the search.
Caraa Blackburn (right) has begged anybody with information about her friends – an English backpacker (centre) and his French companion (left) – to come forward after the pair disappeared from an Australian beach
Caraa Blackburn (left) and Emily Powell (centre) were supposed to meet up with Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, both 20, for the trip of a lifetime later this week
Ms Blackburn and Ms Powell had documented their friendship with Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux, both 20, on social media ahead of their international trip with the duo
Authorities have been desperately searching for Hugo Palmer (right) and Erwan Ferrieux (left), both 20, after their abandoned rental car was found at Shelly Beach near Port Macquarie on Sunday
Ms Blackburn penned a social media post on Wednesday begging for information on her friends’ whereabouts.
On Wednesday night she shared a heartbreaking picture of the ocean off Port Macquarie’s Shelly Beach with the caption ‘give us our boys back you monster’.
In earlier posts, Ms Blackburn’s Instagram featured her and her friend taking in the sights of Sydney and Melbourne as well as going for a swim on a Sydney beach with Mr Palmer on Christmas Day.
Mr Palmer spoke of his excitement as he set off to travel around Australia with his three great friends.
On Wednesday night Ms Blackburn shared a heartbreaking picture of the ocean off Shelly Beach with the caption ‘give us back our boys, you monster’
The girls (pictured) had been friends with Mr Palmer and Mr Ferrieux back in their British home town, and planned to travel Australia together
In earlier posts, Ms Blackburn’s Instagram featured her taking a swim on a Sydney beach with Mr Palmer on Christmas Day
‘The day is finally here that I’ll be travelling to the other side of the world with my amazing friends,’ he wrote on the day he departed Britain, before tagging the trio.
‘Can’t wait to make some great memories and I couldn’t do it without you guys.’
Police on Tuesday night admitted Mr Palmer and Mr Ferrieux had most likely drowned due to the conditions, but had newfound hope on Wednesday morning.
‘From some of the discussions we’ve had this morning, we honestly believe that these people could well be alive,’ Inspector Neville said.
‘At this point in time we have not put a time frame on the search, our efforts are entirely to locate these two men.’
The final posts of an English backpacker who disappeared with his friend while exploring Australia’s east coast showed the two embarking on the trip of a lifetime
Mr Palmer spoke of his excitement to travel around Australia with his three great friends on the day he departed Britain
Ms Blackburn was travelling with the missing pair and is desperately hoping they are found safe
However, the air and sea search will be scaled back on Thursday based on ‘advice from experts’, but continue on the foreshore and coastline.
Police found the same car the men had purchased for their trip around Australia abandoned near Shelly Beach on Sunday.
Property belonging to the men was found at the beach by morning walkers at about 6.30am on Monday, but the two tourists have not been found.
By the time the search ended for the night on Tuesday, authorities had grown increasingly worried the duo, who are believed to have been swimming, may have drowned.
Police are still desperately hunting the pair after the same car was discovered abandoned near Shelly Beach in New South Wales on Sunday
Lifesavers and police have both spoken of how rough the surf had been at the beach.
Police are appealing to anyone who might have seen the men or their Commodore near the beach car park or in the surrounding streets to contact them.
Mr Palmer, who is from Forest Row in East Sussex, is described as being white, with fair hair, 180cm tall and of athletic build.
Mr Ferrieux has dark hair, brown eyes, a tanned complexion and is between 175-180cm tall.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Their rental car, a silver Commodore station wagon, Queensland registration plates 141-YML, was also found in the beach car park (pictured Mr Palmer)
Police are appealing to anyone who might have seen the men or their Commodore near the beach car park or in the surrounding streets to contact them (Mr Ferrieux pictured)