THE BODY of 59-year-old German, Klaus Riebandt, was found next to the River Arade, close to Quinta de Mata Mouros, three kilometres from Silves, on February 1. The cause of death is still unknown.
The authorities believe the man’s death was the result of an accident or unexpected illness. However, they found it strange that, when the body was found, by an individual who had been walking along the river edge, it was nude from the waist down with no sign of violence having taken place. Only the autopsy will be able to shed more light on what happened to Klaus Riebandt.
According to a report in Correio da Manhã newspaper, the man was last seen the day before the body was found. An eyewitness said: “It was 3pm when a foreign looking man took down a canoe from the roof rack of his Mercedes that was parked by the riverside and, with the help of a passer-by, placed it in the water. He got into the canoe and rowed off in a northerly direction. I never saw him again, but his car was still parked in the same spot the day after.”
It is believed the man had been living in his car, a blue Mercedes with a German number plate, as food, cutlery and various pieces of clothing were found in the vehicle. After staying temporarily in the Carvoeiro area, the man had recently moved to Silves.
The German authorities have been informed of the incident and must now contact the family of the deceased to make arrangements for the body.
