Identity of man washed ashore after 67 years known | Inland

It concerns Johannes Garstenveld, who was born in Den Helder in 1922. He was a crew member of the ship Westland. The coaster left Cuxhaven, Germany, on January 30, 1953, and was on its way to England when a violent storm went down.

“He could eventually be identified thanks to DNA material from the son of the victim’s mother’s sister,” said Detective Miranda Wahle, who is investigating found individuals whose identities are unknown.

The General Cemetery on West-Terschelling contains the remains of unidentified persons who were buried between 1953 and 1987. All these graves were opened for further investigation in 2011. As a result, the also missing Vlaardingen captain of the ship Westland could be identified last year. “In the adjacent grave was an unknown deceased person who had been washed up three weeks earlier,” said Wahle. “It now appears that the man from Den Helder, who has been missing for 67 years.”

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