German student accidentally crashed in Crete – he wanted to process a difficult loss while running

Johann W. was missing since February 13, 2025. The 20-year-old had opened himself in Crete in the Samaria Gorge and did not return. A broad search action with helicopters, drones and dogs initially did not achieve any success. On March 14, 2025, it was mountaineers who found his body.

His family had previously been on the Greek island for weeks to coordinate the search. Then she tries to maintain the search from Germany. Shortly before sad certainty prevailed, Johann's sister published an emotional news that was already reading like a farewell letter. She revealed a dramatic death within the family and revealed what Johann has experienced in his last months and years.

Missing in Crete: sister with an emotional post

« We would like to share with you what our brother was for a person, what he loved and what was last concerned with. » With these words begins The Instagram postwhich was discontinued with the « Findjohannwilliams » account, which is looked after by Johann's sister Teresa. She was the last person who had received a message from Johann. On the day of his disappearance he had told her that everything is fine and he In the Samaria gorge is on the way.

Johann W. has three older siblings. “We grew up in the beautiful city of Heidelberg. Johann was our sweet little brother, with whom you could have so much fun, ”you can read in the post. « He was athletic, inspired himself for computer science, loving, calm, uncomplicated, fun and reliable. » The past of the past showed that Johann's siblings already assumed that there was no hope of finding her brother alive. That was now confirmed.

In the post office it also becomes clear that the four siblings grow up stated, but finally experienced a tragedy. In 2022, Johann's mother received a shattering diagnosis: lung cancer in the final stage.

Missed on Crete: Johann tried to process the loss of the mother

Johann was still at school when his mother received the cancer diagnosis. He graduated from high school in 2023 and began studying dual computer science at the University of Mannheim. Above all, he loved his job, revealed his sister. At the beginning of 2024 he took off his parents' house and came in a shared apartment in Mannheim.

In October 2024, Johann took care of his mother in dying. « Johann lovingly took care of her in her last days, put a bed next to hers in the hospice and no longer left her from the side, » says the post. After the death of his mother, Johann tried to run away the grief. He bought good running shoes and sports clothes and plunged into more and more challenges.

The excursion to the Samaria Gorge was also a challenge that Johann was concerned after after almost every day In Crete had run around 20 kilometers. « He underestimated the mountain on his way back, » writes his sister: « He did not expect that so much snow would be there and had no suitable equipment. Then it got dark.  »

In her posting, Johann's sister wrote that she and her siblings would not know exactly what happened and what the last thoughts of her brother were. « But we know that we will never forget him. » The big goal is now to find Johann and him From Crete to bring back home. « That would mean everything for us, » concludes the post. At least this wish is now fulfilled.