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A 59-year-old man who went missing near Corinna would’ve been in “trouble” if he’d spend another night in the West Coast wilderness, Central Western District Inspector Shane LeFevre said.
The Smithton man failed to return from a bushwalk on Wednesday afternoon and was found on the Western Explorer track around 7.45am on Thursday.
Inspector LeFevre said the man was “very cold” but in reasonable health when the Westpac Rescue Helicopter found him.
“He’d spent a night in the wilderness on the West Coast. It was down below 4 degrees I believe,” Inspector LeFevre said.
“… If he had been there for another night, I’m quite convinced he would’ve been in trouble. He did have some prior health concerns and that certainly raised our concern when we had the report yesterday.”
Inspector LeFevre said the man and the two others he was travelling with had reasonable bush experience.
“It just goes to show that you really need to be prepared to spend a night or two if you’re going into those remote wilderness areas,” he said.
Inspector LeFevre said the public should be well prepared when entering remote areas, regardless of whether it’s summer or winter.
“If you do get lost, bunker down, wait as close to your point as you can and hopefully you’ve let some people know where you’re going to be and your expected time of return,” he said.
EARLIER 9.05am:
A man missing in dense bushland near Corinna has been found safe and well.
The 59-year-old Smithton man failed to return from a walk on Wednesday afternoon.
Search efforts on Wednesday were halted due to difficult conditions and terrain.
Land and air crews recommenced searching at first light on Thursday.
The missing Smithton man was located on the Western Explorer Road about 7.45am. He was about seven kilometres from Corinna.
Despite spending the night in very cold conditions without food or shelter, police said the man was cold, and fatigued but generally in good health.
Inspector Shane LeFevre said it was a good example of why people entering bush areas should be prepared with adequate clothing and provisions should an emergency occur.
EARLIER:
Search efforts for a 59-year-old Smithton man lost in bushland near Corinna resumed on Thursday morning.
The man walked into dense bushland about 3pm on Wednesday, but he failed to return as expected.
Tasmania Police was notified of the man’s failure to return and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was deployed to the scene, however the helicopter was unable to search for the missing man because of the conditions and difficult terrain.
Police were stationed in the area overnight.
Land and sky search efforts were expected to commence at first light on Thursday.
