Found Deceased Holland - Matthew McCombe, 21, Amstel train station, 14 March 2020

[TimesEight]

Dbm

 

[TimesEight]

Matthew McCombe was last seen leaving the Novotel in Amsterdam Zuid at about 6:15 a.m. walking towards the RAI convention center, police told NL Times based on images captured by security cameras.

He was in town to celebrate his birthday with some friends. All of his belongings, including his phone and wallet, were left in his hotel room, police said. He has not been heard from since leaving.

Scottish man, 21, missing in Amsterdam since Saturday

I'm confused. Was he last seen at Amsterdam Zuid train station, or at Amsterdam Amstel train station? The first is in the south of the city, the latter in the east.

 

[Dutchesse]

Some new information and CCTV has been released!
CCTV footage shows Billy McNeill's missing grandson jogging on Amsterdam bridge
Matthew can be seen on video crossing the Berlagebrug at 8:14. This would discount any theories that he may have fallen into the water while intoxicated or under the influence somehow, which is sadly how most drownings in Amsterdam happen. So that is good news. That doesn't mean he could not have ended up in the water, but he was a fit young man, and it was daylight out and people were out and about - how could it have happened by accident? MOO, of course.

TimesEight: The Berlagebrug is close to Amsterdam Amstel - the hotel was technically on the Zuidas/South section of the city, but bordering the east section. Amsterdam is small for a city, it's very easy to cross sections, especially when jogging. Let me see if I can upload a clearer map.
The route that google is indicating is not necessarily the route that Matthew took of course, but this gives an idea of how locations relate to each other.

 

[TatianaBarbie]

Some new information and CCTV has been released!
CCTV footage shows Billy McNeill's missing grandson jogging on Amsterdam bridge
Matthew can be seen on video crossing the Berlagebrug at 8:14. This would discount any theories that he may have fallen into the water while intoxicated or under the influence somehow, which is sadly how most drownings in Amsterdam happen. So that is good news. That doesn't mean he could not have ended up in the water, but he was a fit young man, and it was daylight out and people were out and about - how could it have happened by accident? MOO, of course.

TimesEight: The Berlagebrug is close to Amsterdam Amstel - the hotel was technically on the Zuidas/South section of the city, but bordering the east section. Amsterdam is small for a city, it's very easy to cross sections, especially when jogging. Let me see if I can upload a clearer map.
The route that google is indicating is not necessarily the route that Matthew took of course, but this gives an idea of how locations relate to each other.

View attachment 240642

Do you know if he was crossing the Berlagebrug going away from his hotel, or back towards the Novotel?

 

[JudgeJoe]

How could he be gone this long without his phone/wallet? Even if he got lost, surely he’d remember the name of his hotel? I can’t imagine- did he argue with his friends?

 

[TatianaBarbie]

How could he be gone this long without his phone/wallet? Even if he got lost, surely he’d remember the name of his hotel? I can’t imagine- did he argue with his friends?

IMO, it has been said he went out for a cigarette. Nothing was said about running, so now I am confused since he was seen running on tape.

 

[Dre]

I just really don't understand why he didn't take his phone... when smoking alone you almost always take your phone with you!
He was seen on camera running? maybe he is having a mental break?

 

[Dutchesse]

Do you know if he was crossing the Berlagebrug going away from his hotel, or back towards the Novotel?

The article mentions that he was going eastbound, so that is away from the hotel.
CCTV footage of Matthew heading east bound jogging across the Berlagebrug (the Berlage Bridge) has now been discovered and shared online.

I checked Google street view and I don't recognise the white fence that he passes anywhere, but it's probably just new or repainted.

 

[TatianaBarbie]

The article mentions that he was going eastbound, so that is away from the hotel.
CCTV footage of Matthew heading east bound jogging across the Berlagebrug (the Berlage Bridge) has now been discovered and shared online.

I checked Google street view and I don't recognise the white fence that he passes anywhere, but it's probably just new or repainted.

Thank you for researching that! I hope that more video can be found of Matthew.

 

[Dutchesse]

Thank you for researching that! I hope that more video can be found of Matthew.

No problem. I also hope they find more video soon. Honestly, the fact that we see him crossing the bridge running (and away from the water) gives me more hope that he is still alive. Things are so strange in the city right now with the near-lockdown, any number of things could have happened. I truly hope he is out there somewhere, even if he is likely unable to communicate.

 

[Dutchesse]

Matthew's parents are doing interviews on Dutch tv. This is from two nights ago and shows some more CCTV footage and images of the bridge. Apparently his cousins had warned him about the water being dangerous. Bless this family, this broke my heart.

Some information about the Dutch sections: John van den Heuvel is a crime journalist and researcher. He says that he is working very closely with the police, and that the police does not believe a crime has taken place - they think the most likely scenario is an accident, possibly involving the water. Searches are still ongoing, but they have found no trace at all.

Verdwijning 21-jarige Matthew in Amsterdam houdt Schotland bezig

I have some problems with the water theory. Yes, it is very easy to fall in when you're under the influence and it's night - my city had a drowning of an Asian student like that a few years back, and he had been drinking and sadly fell in a canal at night. But here it was early in the day, and daylight out - would Matthew really still be under the influence at this time if he and his friends went out earlier that night? And would no one have seen him fall in and struggle at almost 9 am? I don't know. Some parts of Amsterdam are very quiet, but around a train station on a saturday? MOO.

 

[Ardoch]

Not sure all that's involved in canal rescue in Amsterdam but had he been in a canal is it likely that his body would have been found by now?

 

[SAMS]

Do we have any knowledge of his recent mental state? History? Is he a runner? Would he have gotten an urge to run while out smoking? Seems odd. MOO

 

[Dutchesse]

Not sure all that's involved in canal rescue in Amsterdam but had he been in a canal is it likely that his body would have been found by now?

Normally, yes, but with everyone staying inside, I don't know. The Amstel is technically a small river made into a canal, so it's larger than normal canals. If he fell in that it might take longer to find him. But it remains odd.

Do we have any knowledge of his recent mental state? History? Is he a runner? Would he have gotten an urge to run while out smoking? Seems odd. MOO

No one has commented on his mental state as far as I know, other than to say that he had a good time the night before he left.

 

[Ardoch]

Do we have any knowledge of his recent mental state? History? Is he a runner? Would he have gotten an urge to run while out smoking? Seems odd. MOO

According to this report he was carrying a can of beer when photographed in the lift. I see a bottle, so not sure if translation is incorrect or not or that it was a bottle of water. If it was beer, it could suggest that he might not have been acting logically - leaving his phone and wallet in the room. IMO
Amsterdam police appeal for help to find missing Scottish man - DutchNews.nl

 

[PhoebeTries]

I'm not a jogger or runner, but to me that does not necessarily look like the exercise type of running. More the hurrying type.

 

[Dre]

If he hadn’t slept that night, it’s of my personal opinion that he was under the influence of more than just alcohol... if he was running and on some sort of drug he could have been hallucinating or possibly perceived some sort of threat, or had that “oh my god it’s beautiful to be alive!” sort of feeling. while accidental drownings are terribly baffling, they happen all to often, especially young men who are intoxicated

 

[chimpface]

According to this report he was carrying a can of beer when photographed in the lift. I see a bottle, so not sure if translation is incorrect or not or that it was a bottle of water. If it was beer, it could suggest that he might not have been acting logically - leaving his phone and wallet in the room. IMO
Amsterdam police appeal for help to find missing Scottish man - DutchNews.nl

That definitely looks like a bottle of beer. I wonder if he'd taken anything the night before ie; cocaine, ecstasy? Makes me think they were up all night on a session if he has a bottle of beer at that time.

Edit: Posted at the same time as Dre who has the same thoughts.

 

[PhoebeTries]

He looks so different in the elevator picture compared to the smiling head on photos. I appreciate the lights and angles in elevator CCTV don't do him any favours but I would not recognize them as the same person!

 

[Ardoch]

I would have thought that a few people would have seen him acting a bit erratic. Especially now when we're all aware of who's passing by. Is there full CCTV coverage of the surrounding area?