The South African Police Services (SAPS) have launched a search for Marie Ostbo, a 21-year old student from Norway, who went missing after going on a beach stroll in Sedgefield in the Western Cape.

The young woman had arrived in the coastal town, situated in the Garden Route, with a group of other tourists on Wednesday, 18 April, and they set off for a walk along the beach in the evening, around 18:00, and returned an hour later.

That’s about the same time where Ostbo was last seen, as her absence was soon noticed by her friends who did not recall her making her way back to the backpackers where the group was staying.

After unsuccessfully looking for her at the beach, they alerted NSRI Wilderness and Community Police at around 19:40.

“We appeal to anyone who may have seen Marie, or noticed anything that may assist Police in this incident, to contact the Sedgefield Police,” said the NSRI.

Breaking… Norway student missing in Sedgefield A 21-year-old student from Norway has disappeared in Sedgefield in the Western Cape.

Marie Ostbo, 21, was last seen on the beach yesterday evening, 18 April

Read more :https://t.co/z4TSv7eYlO pic.twitter.com/W7boZjGGE3 — St Francis Chronicle (@stfranchronicle) April 19, 2018

An ongoing search operation, headed by the SA Police Services, has found no sign of missing Marie Ostbo and the search and investigations are ongoing… https://t.co/rTQtQEejdi pic.twitter.com/xXBMPRpBYu — NSRI (@NSRI) April 19, 2018

A Search is underway in Sedgefield to try to locate 21 year old Norwegian, #MarieOstbo. The student, who studies in France was on tour in South Africa with friends, they went for a walk last night and she never returned. — Arthur Pose (@ArthurPose) April 19, 2018

olice are appealing to anyone with information that can assist in this case may contact local Police at 044-3431321.

Also read: Australian government slams SA’s safety in new travel advisory