Disappearance in Plaine-Champagne: Hervé Valère, 73, Still Missing
On Saturday afternoon, a significant search effort was launched to find Hervé Valère, a 73-year-old resident of New Grove. Despite the massive mobilization of authorities and volunteers, the retired man remained missing by Sunday afternoon.
A peaceful family outing for gathering Chinese guavas turned into a disappearance. A relative explained that since Friday, Hervé Valère had expressed a desire to go out a bit. "He told me on Friday that he wanted to go to the beach," this relative explained. "I know he rarely goes out. On Saturday, we decided to go to Plaine-Champagne to pick guavas, as it is the season."
Thus, the family set out for a good time. "We first went to Alexandra Falls for lunch. Then, around 1:30 PM, we arrived at Plaine-Champagne for the gathering," he recounted. They plunged into the bushes to pick the fruit. "Around 2:30 PM, we returned to my car. He was with me."
However, the other family members had not yet returned. "I told him to wait right there; they would come out soon," he said. But the retiree went back. "He said he was going to look for them," he recounted.
Priscilla, Hervé Valère's daughter who was part of the group, explained that at that moment, her father managed to reach her. She was with the other family members. "I told him we were going back to the car." But her father did not follow her. "He told me he was not coming back just yet; he wanted to pick a few more guavas to put in his bag."
Disappearance
The family went to the car to rest. But as the minutes passed, the retiree still had not returned to the meeting point. His family grew worried, especially since he did not have a mobile phone for contact. They then alerted the authorities.
The rescue teams spared no effort. A real race against time began. The regular police from Chemin-Grenier, the Special Mobile Force, the Mauritian police intervention unit, the Dog Section, and firefighters scoured the area.
On Saturday evening, the police helicopter flew over the forest until 7:30 PM, before darkness made operations too dangerous. On Sunday, the search resumed at dawn with the help of two drones surveying the area.
In addition to the participation of rescuers and family members, groups of volunteers also wanted to lend a hand to assist in the search efforts.
By Sunday afternoon, the search continued. An endless wait for the daughter. She made an appeal: "My father was wearing a white t-shirt. If anyone sees him or has taken him in, please take him to the hospital or inform the police."
For the Valère family, each passing minute is a more painful trial.
