The Search for Mr. Erik Matthijsen – updated May 20

Update May 20

Yesterday, teams were again deployed on the ongoing search for Erik Matthijsen, who was last seen on May 13th in the Well’s Bay area.

With the guidance of local hikers of Saba Conservation Foundation, ground teams continued checking trails and possible venture points that Mr. Matthijsen could have taken. This included the assistance of USAR.NL, with specially trained dogs. A drone search was also conducted.

Today, these ground searches will continue on the trails.

Update May 17

After three complete days of searching for Erik Matthijsen, the search has so far remained unsuccessful. Efforts continued today until sunset with the added assistance of two search dogs from the French Fire Department from Saint Martin.

11:00 a.m. today marked 72 hours since he had last been seen, a critical point in the search.

At 9:20 p.m., it has been 82 hours since he had last been seen in the Well’s Bay area. Based on this timeline and advice from medical teams, the nature of our search therefore has turned from rescue to recovery. This means that it is unlikely that the missing person will be found alive. This search will continue tomorrow after the arrival of a team of USAR, consisting of 11 persons and 9 dogs. USAR is the specialized search and rescue team that provides assistance on behalf of the Netherlands when people are missing everywhere in the world, for example, after a natural disaster.

This team from the Urban Search and Rescue Netherlands (USAR.NL) arrived on Saba as part of additional assistance in the search for Erik Matthijsen.This  team with dogs was deployed in the search area in the late afternoon, again led with the assistance of local experienced hikers of the Saba Conservation Foundation.

Update May 16

The coordinated search teams are making an urgent call to all residents to check camera footage on May 13th anytime from 11:00 a.m. until midnight in the area of Well’s Bay area and in The Bottom as the search for Mr. Erik Matthijssen continues.

As of 11:00 a.m. today marks 72 hours since Mr. Matthijsen was last seen, on his way to hike in the Wells Bay area. He was last seen at 11:00 a.m. at Well’s Bay on Wednesday May 13th, wearing a grey t-shirt, black shorts and a black backpack.

If you have may have spotted him on your camera, or gave him a ride on that day, please contact 911.

At daybreak, search teams were again deployed to find Mr. Erik Matthijsen along the Middle Island trail and its surrounding areas. Teams are currently traversing, both on and off the designated trails to possible ventures and viewpoints, through rugged landscapes in some areas. Specially trained dogs have also arrived on island to further assist in the search and have been deployed.

Yesterday, two helicopters were used to comb the area while ground teams continued the search.

Update May 15,

Following another full day of searching, Mr. Matthijsen has not yet been found. Teams have been extensively thorough in their search for him on and off trails, checking possible venture points and viewpoints. The helicopter of the contractor for the Mt. Scenery tower project has been used, as well as the medical evacuation helicopter, for more aerial support. Marines are still checking trails on the ground and making observations with drones.

Yesterday, these efforts were also combined with coastal checks from the Coast Guard’s boat, the DASH patrol airplane, and rangers from Saba Conservation Foundation leading hikes on all possible trails that Mr. Matthijsen could have traversed. The search location was narrowed down to the Middle Island Trail and its surrounding areas.

Early in the day tomorrow, ground teams will continue the search, with guides from SCF. We are also actively exploring all other avenues that could assist with finding Mr. Matthijsen.

Original post

Mr. Erik Matthijsen is a man in his 50s and an experienced hiker. He set out on a trail in the Wells Bay area of Saba at around 11:00 a.m. He is a member of the team working on the Mount Scenery Tower Project and is well known as an active outdoorsman. By the end of the day, he had not returned.

Mr. Erik Matthijsen

Authorities quickly issued a public alert, asking anyone who had seen him to contact emergency services via 911. The public was asked to stay off the trails and to leave the searching to the professionals. Later that night, a crisis team gathered to discuss next steps, and a drone with thermal imaging capabilities was sent to scout the area. Attempts were also made to trace his phone.

By 6:30 the following morning, Erik had still not been found. A fully coordinated search was launched, drawing in teams from the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), the Coast Guard, and HANAB, the contractors connected to the Mount Scenery Tower Project. The contractor’s helicopter, already on the island for the tower project, was also brought in to assist with aerial searches. Through WhatsApp messages, the public was asked to stay off several specific trails, i.e., the Ladder Bay, Middle Island, North Coast, and All Too Far trails, so as not to hinder the operation.

As the day wore on, the search intensified. Camera footage analysis helped confirm and narrow the search zone, ruling out several areas and concentrating efforts on the region between the Middle Island and Sulphur Mine trails. Ground teams, guided by SCF, methodically worked through all identified trails, probable off-trail routes, and coastal viewpoints. The Coast Guard conducted sea searches with their vessel and drones, and aerial footage and coverage was provided by the contractor’s helicopter and the Coast Guard’s DASH patrol airplane.

The ground searches were called off for safety reasons at nightfall, but the operation went on. Thermal imaging drones and handheld cameras were deployed through the night, taking advantage of dropping temperatures to more easily detect heat signals in the narrowed search zone. Island Governor Jonathan Johnson confirmed that the crisis team had arranged for the drones to run continuously, with ground teams resuming again at first light. The Ladder Bay trail was cleared and reopened to the public.

Throughout the operation, gratitude was extended to an extensive network of partners: KPCN, BKCN, the Ministry of Defense, the Coast Guard, Marines, the National Crisis Center, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Saba Conservation Foundation, and the many volunteers who gave their time.
The search for Erik Matthijsen continues.

PES