The intensive search continues for a Melbourne resident Christos in the Dinner Plain area of Mount Hotham where he was last seen on Friday afternoon. Adding to the urgency of the search is the fact that snow is expected in the area over the next few days.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said police members from Mounted Branch, Search and Rescue, Air Wing and local members, as well as Ambulance Victoria, Parks Victoria, SES and local volunteers were involved in the large-scale search of the area.
The missing man, Christos (surname has been withheld), aged 71, who was last seen on Big Muster Drive in Dinner Plain was believed to have gone for a walk to see emus that had been reported in the area. He had come to the area on a week-long break with his wife.
Police said Christos was last seen wearing a long-sleeve top, a long-sleeve jumper, pants and Crocs.
Police Inspector Paul Hargreaves told media that the man, who was “very fit for his age” may have been injured while walking. He said police were hoping to speak to a person who had told an SES volunteer that he or she had seen a man matching Christos’ description at 5pm on Friday.
“We are thinking maybe he’s come across some misadventure or something happened to him. Maybe he got disorientated, we don’t know – at this stage it is a very open book. He was just going to have a look around, so very innocent. We have no reason to suspect otherwise,” Inspector Hargreaves.
“We know the conditions up here are not favourable to be out in the elements. The concern for us going forward is that we know it’s going to get colder… you spend 24 hours out in these conditions and it’s quite harmful to your health.”
The night time temperature in the area was around 1C.
“Even if you’re out here and you have got the right gear on, the fact is if you have gotten wet, it’s going to be awkward for you in these conditions,” the inspector said.
