The heartbreaking yet hopeful search has come to an end: the body of the 17-year-old boy who disappeared in the Tisza River was found on May 11
A tragic story that united an entire community has now reached its sorrowful conclusion. On May 11, the body of the 17-year-old boy who had gone missing without a trace on May 3 was discovered in the waters of the Tisza River, near Tiszadada.
That evening, the young man drove to the outskirts of Taktakenéz – and vanished mysteriously. He was last seen near the Prugy embankment, wearing a red T-shirt and black shorts, in the dense, wooded floodplain along the Tisza.
From the very first day, worry gripped everyone—he gave no sign of life, his phone went silent, and his loved ones feared the worst. The search began immediately, but each passing day deepened the dread that their worst fears might be realized.
A community united by hope and humanity
Before he vanished, he had arranged to meet a friend to return home together—but he never showed up. His disappearance triggered an extraordinary community effort. Residents of Taktabáj, the local police, and Mayor János Rézműves joined forces to coordinate the search.
Soon, professional rescue teams got involved:
The Neptun Diving Club and Rescue Team (10 members, dogs, quads, motorbike), The Dogs for Life Foundation (with volunteers and more search dogs), As well as police and disaster management teams.
They searched day and night through the forested flood zones along the Tisza—but for days, there was no trace of the boy.
A dog named Faith brought a glimmer of hope
On May 9, a new ray of hope arrived: ECHO’s search and rescue team joined the effort. Their dog, fittingly named Faith, picked up a scent near the mouth of the Prügyi main channel, at the Tisza River. MOHOSZ fisheries staff provided a boat for further exploration.
Faith signaled again—this time, sonar confirmed the possibility of a body underwater at a depth of about 3 to 3.5 meters. The disaster management team attempted to retrieve it, but the river’s strong current swept the body away.
May 11: the uncertainty came to an end
Two days later, on May 11, Faith and her handler József Losonczi picked up another signal—this time near Tiszadada, about 4–5 kilometers from the original search area. The body was located and identified: it was the 17-year-old boy everyone had been desperately searching for.
More than a search – a testament to compassion and community spirit
This was more than a tragedy; it revealed the strength of a community united by compassion. Hope was never abandoned, not even when it seemed faint.
The police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case. So far, no signs of foul play have been found, though an official report is expected later.
🕯️ Our heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family and friends.
*Cover image: illustration. The scene shown is artificial; the characters are not real people.*
