Australian police identify backpacker's remains

Hugo Palmer (left) and Erwan Ferrieux went missing in February. Photo: NSW Police
Hugo Palmer (left) and Erwan Ferrieux went missing in February. Photo: NSW Police

Australian police say they believe bones recently found in waters off an east coast beach are the remains of a Frenchman missing since February.

Erwan Ferrieux (21) was last seen with British tourist Hugo Palmer five months ago near Port Macquarie, a popular tourist town about 385km north of Sydney.

Concerns about the welfare of the two young backpackers were raised when an unattended rental car was located with their belongings.

Several bones were found off a nearby beach last month and police said testing had confirmed their worst fears.

"We believe from the DNA comparisons that they belong to Erwan Ferrieux," Superintendent Paul Fehon told reporters in Port Macquarie on Monday. 

He said another bone was found on Sunday and that it had also been sent for forensic analysis to determine whether it was from either of the missing backpackers.

"This bone is from another part of the anatomy," Fehon said.

Australia is a popular destination for tourists of all ages and budgets, many of them young backpackers.

Police have also been searching for another missing backpacker, 18-year-old Belgian Theo Hayez, who has not been seen for more than a month.

Hayez vanished after leaving a bar in Byron Bay, a holiday town about 765km north of Sydney, on May 31.