Police hold grave fears for a Flinders Island man missing on a bushwalk in Tasmania’s far South-West.
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A search is underway for James Hugh McLean, 76, of Flinders Island, an experienced bushwalker who was on a one-month trek in the area.
Police said they received a call from National Parks and Wildlife Services on December 14 about Mr McLean.
“Initial investigations failed to locate Mr McLean’s whereabouts and police have commenced searches in the south-west region,” a spokesman said.
“The Westpac rescue helicopter was deployed on December 18 and completed a search over the marked walking tracks but no signs of Mr McLean were found.”
Police said they had also spoken to a number of people who had completed walks along the tracks.
Mr McLean was last seen around November 12 before he started his walk.
He signed into the Huon Track walk in the Tahune area on November 13 and was planning to walk to Melaleuca and explore some of the surrounding areas before returning on December 13.
“Mr McLean did not reach his food drop in Melaleuca and subsequently he has not returned home,” police said.
“He is a reasonably experienced walker who has completed walks in this area before.”
Police will continue to search the area and ask that anybody who may have come across Mr McLean either during the walk or seen him since the walk to contact them on 131444.