Ridwan’s older brother Erwin Muniruzaman told a press conference that despite continued efforts to find Eril, Ridwan Kamil and the family now believed their son had died.

“[My brother and his wife] said that they have accepted and believe that Emmeril Kahn Mumtadz ... had died,” Erwin said in the televised press conference on Friday.

Ridwan, his wife Atalia Praratya and daughter Zara have decided to return home.

Posting a farewell bid to her son on her Instagram account, Atalia wrote that she had returned to Indonesia and that she let him go in the protection of Allah, praying that Eril would receive never-ending love, blessings and happiness.

“On the bank of this beautiful Aare river, mom lets you go for us to meet again, sooner or later. As the mayor [of Bern] said ‘the city of Bern will forever be deeply connected to us…’. My best prayers will be contained in every single one of my breaths,” Atalia posted on Thursday.

As of Thursday local time, the search for Eril continues on the Aare river of Bern by land, boat and aerial patrols by drone, although divers were not dispatched due to the strong current of the river.

Eril, 22, was reported missing on May 26 after he was swept away by strong currents and a search by the Swiss police search-and-rescue mission has been conducted since.

He was swimming with a friend and a relative when he was pulled by the river's current despite trying to swim up to the surface and a friend trying to help.

Eril was in Switzerland, accompanied by family members, to enroll in a master's program at a local university. Ridwan Kamil was on a work trip to the United Kingdom during the incident.

Ridwan and his wife also participated in the land patrols on the riverbanks of the Aare on Wednesday.

Erwin said the family had consulted with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) West Java chapter, which advised a gaib prayer (a Muslim prayer for the dead) be held for Eril on Friday. The West Java MUI has called on the public to perform the gaib prayer together.

Responding to the call, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan ordered all mosques in the capital to conduct the gaib prayer after the Friday prayer for Eril, and for Jakarta city administration offices and employees to participate.

“There is no heavier test for a parent than losing a child. Let’s pray for [Ridwan] and his family so that Allah gives them strength and resilience in facing this tragedy,” Anies wrote on his Instagram account.

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