The devastated family of Théo Hayez have shared heartbreaking family photos to commemorate his 22nd birthday.
The Belgian backpacker was was last seen at the popular Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay on May 31, 2019 when he was 18-years-old.
Police were alerted to his disappearance six days later after he failed to return to his hostel and could not be contacted.
A massive search search saw the entire area scoured but the only potential trace of Mr Hayez found was a hat.
Investigators believe he fell from the rugged clifftops at Tallow Beach but many others including his family suspect he may have been murdered.
His dad, Laurent, was the first to post a photo of Mr Hayez on the Facebook page Looking for Théo Hayez.
Theo Hayez (right) went missing on May 31, 2019, while backing in Byron Bay after he was thrown out of the Cheeky Monkeys bar at 11pm
His heartbroken father Laurent shared a photo of Mr Hayez and his cousin Lisa (above) to mark his 22nd birthday
Mr Hayez’s mother Vinciane shared a photo taken just hours after he was born (above) to celebrate his 22nd birthday
The photo shows the missing backpacker as a child with his cousin, Lisa.
‘Today is Théo’s 22nd birthday. Laurent would like to share this beautiful photo of Théo and Lisa as children, as well as a song they used to listen to together, Unintended by Muse,’ the post said.
‘Thank you everyone for your ongoing support and kindness on our journey to find Théo. He is so deeply loved and missed.’
His mother, Vinciane, also shared a baby photo of Mr Hayez to the page just an hour later.
‘A very special photo of baby Théo, only a few hours old, from Vinciane with sadness on his 22nd birthday,’ she said.
An inquest into Mr Hayez’s disappearance will hear State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan findings on October 21, offering his distraught family a measure of closure.
A widespread search of the Byron Bay area for any trace of Theo Hayez only found a hat (pictured, police searching the hills around the Byron Bay lighthouse)
Their hopes were raised after private investigator Ken Gamble told the public in May a $500,000 had lead to ‘credible leads’.
‘I am very thankful to everyone who has provided information. Some investigations are still ongoing,’ he told 7News at the time.
‘The recent $500,000 reward offered by the NSW government has brought forward new leads that are also being thoroughly investigated.
‘I am still very hopeful that the case will be solved.’
Mr Hayez’s family have long-held the belief their son was with another unidentified person on the night he disappeared.
‘Every day Théo is missing is as difficult as the last as we navigate our endless and ambiguous grief and continue to seek answers to what happened to our boy,’ they said in a statement.
Mr Hayez’s devastated family (above) believe he was with another person the night he disappeared in Byron Bay
An inquest into Mr Hayez’s (above) disappearance will hear from the NSW State Coroner on October 31
‘As with all families of missing people, we are unable to properly grieve and heal, as we don’t have a conclusion.
‘A key question we are seeking to address is whether he was with someone on the night of May 31, 2019 – which we strongly believe to be the case considering the circumstances.
‘Walking into the bushland and climbing up the grassy side of the Cape Byron cliff alone at night is something we believe Théo would never have done unless he was with someone at the time.’
Earlier this year, the inquest heard evidence that places Mr Hayez on a steep headland below Byron Bay’s famous lighthouse around midnight on the night of his disappearance.
Data from Google location services and his mobile phone connection shows Mr Hayez walked to a local sporting field after being kicked out the bar.
Family and friends say Mr Hayez (left) was responsible, not a big drinker, kind and risk-avoidant
Police believe Mr Hayez tried to climb a cliff below the Byron Bay lighthouse and was swept out to sea (pictured, police searching the area)
He then made his way through the Arakwal National Park to the beach below the headland, before climbing the steep ascent towards the lighthouse.
The phone tracking stops there.
Police believe Mr Hayez made his way up the beachside cliffs and dropped his phone before falling himself and being swept out to see.
However, his family insists he would never be reckless enough to scale cliffs in the middle of the night, especially after having a few drinks.
His friends backed-up his family’s account of Mr Hayez’s responsibility and told the inquest Mr Hayez was kind, responsible and didn’t take drugs or drink excessively.
Other people believe Mr Hayez could have been disorientated due to intoxication or was trying to find a beach party in Cosy’s Corner with an unidentified person.
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