Overview
- Governor Jonathan Johnson announced the decision to suspend the active search after consultation with a local crisis team and expressed sympathy for the family and colleagues of Erik Matthijsen.
- Authorities and volunteers conducted large-scale operations that used marines, police, firefighters, search dogs, drones, helicopters and boats but found no trace of the 53-year-old ambulance nurse.
- Matthijsen had been on Saba to help build a Defence communications tower and was a longtime member of a Dutch USAR team, which sent personnel and dogs to assist in the effort.
- Officials previously told reporters they believed Matthijsen was likely no longer alive, but they stopped short of any definitive finding and asked the public to call 911 with information.
- USAR and local teams have ended their on‑island deployments and officials said they hope tips from residents or CCTV will eventually bring clarity to the unresolved disappearance.