14 November 2023

Search for missing Shelburne man continues

| Chisa Hasegawa
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Police searching for missing person.

A search and rescue operation recommenced Monday morning for a missing Shelburne man. Photo: Yuri Arcurs.

The search continues for a Shelburne man in his mid to late 60s, who went missing on Sunday (12 November), while fishing in the Olive River.

Friends and family in the area began the search on Sunday night for the man who was last seen at approximately 8 am, police said.

Police also deployed aerial assets on the night, but were unsuccessful in locating the man.

The search and rescue operation recommenced on Monday morning (November 13) at first light.

“We’ve stood up additional resources and our search and rescue coordinators are on scene currently,” Senior Sergeant Duane Amos said.

He said local rangers who know the area well were also currently on the scene, and SES resources from two locations would be travelling to assist.

The search on Sunday night located the vehicle that the man had taken to the area, as well as preliminary information revealing that he was an “avid fisherman” who had been to the area previously.

“He was well-prepared, certainly well-prepared for a normal expedition that it would appear he has undertaken before,” he said.

Police are concerned about “misorientation or misadventure”, describing the terrain as “dense” and the conditions “hot and trying at the best of times”.

Police also have not ruled out a crocodile attack.

“That’s something that the search and rescue coordinators will be taking into consideration, and certainly that’s a risk for any of our searchers and our emergency services as well,” he said.

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