Disappeared Hungarian teenager may have plunged into the Danube from the Chain Bridge

Eighteen-year-old Mátyás Egressy vanished from central Budapest in the early hours of Saturday. He left District V to head home, but never arrived at his family’s address in District XI. His family suspect his drink may have been spiked, as CCTV footage reportedly shows the frightened teenager running through several parts of the city. In a separate development, a surveillance camera captured a person falling into the icy Danube from the Chain Bridge. Authorities are now investigating whether the incident is connected to Mátyás’s disappearance.

Strange disappearance

An extensive search is under way in Budapest for Mátyás Egressy after the 18-year-old vanished while trying to get home from a night out.

According to Blikk, officials and local volunteers have joined forces in a major effort to trace the teenager, with large numbers of people combing the city. The newspaper quoted Mátyás’s father as saying his son had fallen asleep on a bus and was made to get off at Örs vezér tere at around 4am.

With no help available, he reportedly took the suburban railway to Csömör before travelling back into Budapest. He is said to have reached Kossuth tér and crossed the Chain Bridge at about 6.30am on Saturday.

Friends described Mátyás as a diligent student who hopes to study at an Italian university. They said he left the Ötkert pub drunk, but no more than usual. His aunt, however, believes his drink may have been tampered with — which could explain reports that he seemed distracted and appeared to be running from something or someone. His family insist he has no history of mental health problems.

Mystery fall into the Danube

Police are also examining footage that reportedly shows a person falling into the River Danube from the Chain Bridge at around 6.30am on Sunday, according to index.hu. The footage has been obtained by police investigators, who are looking into whether it could be connected to Mátyás’s disappearance. The bridge has been the scene of serious incidents before: last year, a man fell onto the stone pavement of the Danube embankment near a riverside bar close to the Chain Bridge.

On Sunday, Blikk reported on Sunday that Mátyás had been found, without providing details. Later the paper said it had spoken to his father by phone, who denied this and rejected claims that his son had been located.

It is not the first time someone has ended up in the Danube from the Chain Bridge. A few years ago, an American tourist fell from the top of the overpass but was rescued.

Featured image: depositphotos.com