“We have stretched ourselves far, but at some point, we had to make a decision,” says police chief.
Norwegian police have ceased their search for a freezer on the seabed of Sagfjorden in Hamarøy, a key focus in the investigation into the disappearance of Stian Hole, who went missing in June 2023.
Despite extensive efforts involving specialized equipment and assistance from the military, the freezer could not be located.
“We have stretched ourselves far, but at some point, we had to make a decision,” Hans Kristian Grunnvoll, head of the Innhavet police station, told NRK. “We had a strong desire to retrieve the freezer and determine its contents, but we did not succeed.”
The freezer, initially discovered in April near a fish farming facility, was scheduled for retrieval on Thursday. Although police emphasized there is no direct evidence linking the freezer to Hole’s disappearance, they sought to recover it to rule out any connection.
The search included the use of underwater drones operated by Seløy Underwater Services and additional equipment provided by the military. However, no trace of the freezer was found. Grunnvoll speculated that either the coordinates provided in April were imprecise or underwater currents may have displaced the freezer, though experts from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute noted that currents at such depths are generally too weak to move an object of that size.
Grunnvoll expressed disappointment over the inability to recover the freezer, noting that it was important to “turn over every stone” in the investigation. While the search has been suspended, police have not ruled out resuming efforts in the future.
Hole’s family, who have maintained skepticism about the freezer’s relevance to the case, viewed the retrieval effort as necessary due to the public attention it generated. “I don’t believe there’s a connection to Stian,” said his brother, Morten Hole. “But once it became a focus, it had to be addressed.”
Police have praised the work of Seløy Underwater Services and the military for their support. The case remains unresolved, with no further plans for the freezer search at this time.
