Byron Bay's famed lighthouse turned red overnight to honour missing backpacker Théo Hayez on the one-year anniversary of his disappearance.
The Belgian teen was six months into an eight month trip around Australia when he vanished without a trace. He was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar on the evening on May 31, 2019.
Police said he was asked to leave by staff after showing signs of intoxication.
READ MORE: Missing backpacker's family urge those 'withholding information' to come forward
Mobile phone data showed that he walked in the opposite direction of his hostel, through bushland, to Cosy Corner on Tallow Beach, near the Byron Bay lighthouse.
With no answers and no end to their "nightmare" in sight, Mr Hayez's family shared an hour-long Facebook live video hosted by local radio host Nyck Jeanes.
In a message directed to Mr Hayez himself, his cousin Lisa Hayez, said "the family miss him so much" and will never stop searching for answers.
"Théo to be honest I don't know where to start," she begun.
"You and me have been together since we were born, you've always been like a brother to me. If I had to describe you in a few words I'd say: 'happiness', 'respect' and 'love'.
"Since the 31st of May Byron Bay changed. People who didn't know each other before united with the same goal. Finding you. They never stopped. Not a second. And trust me they are not ready to stop until we know what happened to you.
"Thank you for being such a great guy, a great son, a great brother. You deserve all the respect in the world.
"And I promise you we're never going to give up; we're such a great team here."
Mr Hayez's godfather Jean-Philippe Pector also shared a photo of a three-year-old Théo Hayez cradled in his father Laurent's arms.
The photo was taken at Mr Pector's wedding.
Mr Pector shared that one month before Mr Hayez set out on his travels, his father handed him a poem by Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling titled 'If.'
Mr Hayez was overwhelmed with surprise when he arrived in Australia to find the same poem hanging on a wall in his godfather's home.
Vanished without a trace
Mr Hayez was last seen on CCTV footage at 11pm on May 31 walking away from Cheeky Monkey's wearing a black baseball hat, hooded sweatshirt, beige pants and black Adidas shoes.
A frantic search begun when his disappearance was reported by Wake Up hostel staff after he failed to check out of his room.
An extensive air, land and sea search operation, which involved multiple agencies across police, SES volunteers and surf life-saving groups failed to unearth clues as to his whereabouts.
Police called off their physical search in late June but determined locals continue to scour the area.
One of the co-ordinators of the local-led search, Renee Scott, said in the Facebook video it's important people take note of what Mr Hayez was wearing the night he disappeared and share clips of him to raise awareness internationally.
Her comments come after volunteers found a faded black baseball hat last July. The hat, which family member believe to have belonged to Mr Hayez has since been sent off for DNA testing.
"It's really important everyone recognises and understands what clothing he had. In particular his shoes, he had a black hoodie, tan pants and a black watch," Ms Scott said.
"Ultimately we're trying to find someone who may have been with him that night – someone may know something. It's such a transient town we feel that person may have travelled on."
NSW Police told 9News.com.au the investigation into the disappearance of Mr Hayez is continuing, ahead of a Coronial inquest that will begin later this year.
Anyone who has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or forward information anonymously to: PO Box 208 Suffolk Park, NSW 2481.
Contact Reporter Raffaella Ciccarelli at rciccarelli@nine.com.au.
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