Body of missing Scot discovered in Munich river
THE family of a Scot found dead in Germany have told of their pain after his body was discovered in a river.
Gareth Hicks went missing last month after a night out with friends at the Blitz nightclub in Munich.
His relatives launched a desperate appeal to help find the 32-yearold but were devastated when his body was found in the river Isar on Wednesday.
The family now intend to use money donated to fund the search to bring his body home.
They will need to raise £10,000 for his repatriation as well as pay for the funeral.
Any money that is left over will be donated to the Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British nationals in trouble overseas, and had been helping the Hicks family.
In a message posted online, Mr
Hicks’s sister Victoria wrote: ‘It is with great sadness that I announce the death of our beloved brother, son and fiancé, Gareth.
‘Munich police found his body in the river Isar on Wednesday, we don’t know any circumstances surrounding his death, but ask that you respect the family at this awful time.
‘We would like to thank everyone who has supported our search for
Gareth, it really means the world to us.
‘The money raised will go towards bringing his body home.’
She added that the family had been asked by the German authorities to bring her brother’s body home by Wednesday as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Miss Hicks wrote: ‘The family are all completely shattered.
‘What is worse is that the German authorities are putting pressure on us to make arrangements for the body as soon as possible.
‘Under no circumstances do [the family] want his body cremated somewhere so foreign to him.’
Mr Hicks, from Forfar, Angus, had moved to Germany in early January to stay with a friend who was teaching him some building skills, including plastering.
The former Angus Council welfare rights advocate had not been heard from since he posted a picture on Facebook captioned ‘modern slave’ in the early hours of February 22.
He then commented on the post saying: ‘Get out of jail free.’
His brother Stuart, who lives in
Lincoln, made a desperate appeal for people to help in the search for his brother and to report any sightings.
However, following the discovery of his brother’s body, Mr Hicks took to social media to express his grief.
Mr Hicks, 37, wrote: ‘Well the worst news I’ve ever been given happened on Wednesday.
‘My amazing brother Gareth was found in the river Isar. I’m really going to miss you, gazzie.’
Mr Hicks added: ‘Thank you to everyone who shared, liked and cared.
‘Thank you for all the donations which will be used to bring Gareth home. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition.
‘It’s so surreal. I’m sorry if I haven’t messaged anyone back. I’m struggling to come to terms with it all [at the moment], I hope you understand.’
‘We’re completely shattered’