Helmond has been turned upside down in recent days by the disappearance of 19-year-old Mick. The discovery of his body has left the city in deep mourning. Mayor Sjoerd Potters expresses his condolences and calls the loss of Mick “a sad start to the new year for many Helmond residents.”
“There was a great search, in the hope that Mick would be found alive. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Potters writes on LinkedIn. The police found a person in the canal on Saturday afternoon.
After investigation it turned out to be from 19-year-old Mick from Helmond. The man left his parents’ house on Edelhertstraat in Helmond on the night of January 1 to 2.
Pain and sadness
“The death of such a young person affects us all, but first and foremost Mick’s family and loved ones,” Potters shares his condolences, reports This is Helmond. “It cannot be expressed in words how much pain and sadness they have to endure. I want to wish them a lot of support, strength and love in this difficult period. I know that the whole of Helmond is standing next to them.”
At the same time, the mayor also recognizes that Helmond residents seek each other out in these types of difficult and sad circumstances. “Hundreds of volunteers, from Helmond and beyond, helped find Mick.”
Search Mick
The police had been searching for missing Mick since Thursday night. She received help from the Veterans Search Team Foundation, which started the search from Espendonk. This foundation supported the police in previous searches.
Last Saturday, the search was expanded to the industrial estate around the residential area where Mick’s house on Edelhertlaan was located. The many volunteers were assigned a specific search area via the Missing Coordination Platform (CPV), located on the grounds of the Kemie company on the Graandijk. In addition, the Rijpelberg district was also combed through door-to-door visits.
“The search took place day and night and in harsh weather conditions. The emergency services also did everything they could to find Mick. I have a lot of respect and admiration for this.”
Togetherness
Mayor Potters would like to thank everyone who helped in recent days for their involvement and efforts. “Unfortunately, the outcome was different than we had hoped, but the solidarity and commitment were palpable.”