A round-the-world sailor is feared to have been eaten by cannibals during a visit to a South Sea island, according to the Daily Mail. Remains found in the embers of a camp fire are believed to be those of 40-year-old business adviser Stefan Ramin. He apparently arranged to go on a traditional goat hunt in the forest after dropping anchor at Nuku Hiva in French Polynesia.

His girlfriend Heike Dorsch, 37, says she saw him depart with a local guide, named as Henri Haiti. Only the guide returned, she says, and he told her: ‘There’s been an accident. He needs help.’
 
Before she could rush into the forest, however, she claims Haiti chained her to a tree and sexually abused her. She managed to escape hours later to alert authorities and they began a seven-day search for Mr Ramin.

Last week, the ashes were found in a valley by a squad of 22 police officers. Among the embers were bones including a jaw bone, teeth and melted metal – believed to be fillings.

Investigators believe a ‘human body was hacked to pieces and burned’. Haiti is missing and soldiers from the French overseas territory have joined police in the hunt for him.

The remains were flown to a hospital in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, and from there to Paris for DNA analysis to prove whether they are all that is left of Mr Ramin.

It was in 2008 that Mr Ramin, from Haselau in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, set out to sail the world in a catamaran with Miss Dorsch.

Last month they dropped anchor in Nuku Hiva, largest of the Marquesas islands which over the centuries have featured in many reports of cannibalism.
 
Mr Ramin and Miss Heike began their travels in 2008 and dropped anchor in Nuku Hiva last month.
 
Nuku Hiva has a population of just over 2,000 and featured in the stories of Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick.

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