Woman’s body found in dunes

Kitesurfers on the beach at Zeebrugge last week found the body of a woman after noticing a hand sticking out of the sand in the dunes. The woman is between 25 and 35 years old, with dark hair, a white T-shirt and leggings. According to the prosecutor's office in Bruges, the cause of death would need to await toxicological and other tests, but it was estimated she had been dead for two to three weeks. The body showed no outward signs of violence.

The Disaster Victim Identification team (DVI) immediately established a crime scene on the beach, before carefully digging away the sand to uncover the body. Alain Remue, head of the Missing Persons Unit which is also involved in the investigation, said the DVI's work amounted to "forensic archaeology" similar to work done in uncovering the pyramids. Once the body is laid bare, the sand on which it has lain is sifted for evidence traces, while the medical examiner carries out tests on the corpse itself. The police have started a murder investigation, given the way the body was buried.

Meanwhile the body of a man was recovered last week from the sea at Nieuwpoort. The victim was identified as a Frenchman, aged about 60, from Lille. His boat was moored in the harbour, and it is thought he became unwell while on board and fell intothewater.

(August 25, 2010)