WALVIS BAY – Hopes to find the missing retired teacher from Henties Bay alive were dashed after his remains were found submerged in his vehicle in a hole filled with water close to Torra Bay on Thursday. 

The 69-year-old Henry Jacobus Mapanka was reported missing near the Ugab Gate at the border of the Erongo and Kunene regions in September.

Police indicated at the time that he had left Henties Bay in his white Nissan Hardbody NP 300 double-cab, en route to Sesfontein.

Mapanka allegedly passed through the Ugab Gate into the Kunene region that same day, but never reached his destination, and could also not be reached on his mobile phone.

A frantic search was conducted by both his family and Nampol, but in vain.

Inspector Ileni Shapumba on Saturday told the media that the police were informed on Thursday evening about a white vehicle that was completely in the water on the road some 21 km from the Ugabmund gate towards Torra Bay.

“On Friday morning, we sent out a team of senior investigators from the police to the scene. They found his vehicle completely submerged in the water at a hole which was dug during road construction alongside the road,” he explained.

The Namibian Navy divers recovered the vehicle from the water.

“Upon investigation, it was discovered that the details match that of the missing Henties Bay resident. His identity document and his other articles were also found inside the vehicle,” Shapumba said.

They believe that the water could have overflown from the ocean during high tide, and flooded the gravel road. It is suspected that the missing man drowned after the unusual overflowing seawater that was reported in that area covered the usually dry area, and the vehicle only became visible after the water levels had subsided.

- edeklerk@nepc.com.na