Police in South Iceland report they have concluded their investigation of the death of French hiker found dead in an isolated valley north of the village Höfn í Hornafirði in South Iceland earlier this summer. Police were unable to establish the cause of death, but found no indication of foul play. The young man is believed to have died of exposure while making his way back to Höfn.
Read more: Authorities unable to identify a body discovered by hikers
On 19 August hikers in Laxárdalur valley, north of the village of Höfn í Hornarfirði, in South Iceland, found a body in a ravine. The body appeared to have been lying in the ravine for at least a few months. Authorities were unable to identify the body, as it did not match that of anyone reported missing in Iceland. At this point the police began searching records for foreign travellers who had entered the country but had not yet left.
With the help of a DNA sample it was finally established the body was that of a 19-year-old Frenchman, Florian Maurice Francois Cendre, who had arrived in Iceland in October 2014.
Read more: Body found by hikers was of a 19 year old Frenchman
Reclusive loner, isolated in the world of video games
The police reports Florian was a loner who had not been in contact with his family or friends for over a year. He had not told anyone of his trip to Iceland, and according to police Florian had “closed himself off in the world of video games.” As a consequence, his disappearance was not reported. The police has been unable to uncover any clues as to why he travelled to Iceland, what his plans were in Iceland, or why he travelled to the village of Höfn.
No foul play suspected
The autopsy failed to establish the cause of death. However, the police reports there is no indication that foul play had been involved. A witness who was hiking in the area on 2 October, the day Florian arrived by air from Reykjavík to Höfn í Hornafirði. Reported to seeing a man hiking down a trail in Laxárdalur valley. According to the witness, the man was carrying a backpack but did not seem to be wearing proper hiking clothing.
A missing backpack
A month later the witness was again hiking the trail in question, and discovered a backpack 20 metres (60 feet) from the road, by the river Þverá. The witness did not connect the two events until after the body was found. The backpack has since disappeared as the river has changed where it flows in the last year, and probably washed the backpack away during the spring when the river swells as snows melt in the mountains. The police reports that nothing is known of what happened to the backpack in question, and police has been unable to confirm it belonged to Florian.
Police in South Iceland report they have concluded their investigation of the death of French hiker found dead in an isolated valley north of the village Höfn í Hornafirði in South Iceland earlier this summer. Police were unable to establish the cause of death, but found no indication of foul play. The young man is believed to have died of exposure while making his way back to Höfn.
Read more: Authorities unable to identify a body discovered by hikers
On 19 August hikers in Laxárdalur valley, north of the village of Höfn í Hornarfirði, in South Iceland, found a body in a ravine. The body appeared to have been lying in the ravine for at least a few months. Authorities were unable to identify the body, as it did not match that of anyone reported missing in Iceland. At this point the police began searching records for foreign travellers who had entered the country but had not yet left.
With the help of a DNA sample it was finally established the body was that of a 19-year-old Frenchman, Florian Maurice Francois Cendre, who had arrived in Iceland in October 2014.
Read more: Body found by hikers was of a 19 year old Frenchman
Reclusive loner, isolated in the world of video games
The police reports Florian was a loner who had not been in contact with his family or friends for over a year. He had not told anyone of his trip to Iceland, and according to police Florian had “closed himself off in the world of video games.” As a consequence, his disappearance was not reported. The police has been unable to uncover any clues as to why he travelled to Iceland, what his plans were in Iceland, or why he travelled to the village of Höfn.
No foul play suspected
The autopsy failed to establish the cause of death. However, the police reports there is no indication that foul play had been involved. A witness who was hiking in the area on 2 October, the day Florian arrived by air from Reykjavík to Höfn í Hornafirði. Reported to seeing a man hiking down a trail in Laxárdalur valley. According to the witness, the man was carrying a backpack but did not seem to be wearing proper hiking clothing.
A missing backpack
A month later the witness was again hiking the trail in question, and discovered a backpack 20 metres (60 feet) from the road, by the river Þverá. The witness did not connect the two events until after the body was found. The backpack has since disappeared as the river has changed where it flows in the last year, and probably washed the backpack away during the spring when the river swells as snows melt in the mountains. The police reports that nothing is known of what happened to the backpack in question, and police has been unable to confirm it belonged to Florian.
