People walking on the beach in the seaside resort of Ostend (West Flanders) made a rather macabre discovery this Christmas Day. They encountered human remains that were washed up by the tide. The limbs are believed to include a right foot and part of a leg. The public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation and is looking to see if a DNA match can be made in Belgium’s missing persons database.
The human remains were found around 9am on the beach near the Diksmuidestraat in the district of Mariakerke. According to the police, it was clear that the foot had been in the water for a long time.
The public prosecutor's office and the missing persons unit have been informed. A DNA test is now being conducted to see if there is a match with a missing person.
According to the police, it is still unclear in which circumstances the deceased died.