Desperate search continues for missing hiker in Tasmania – as fears grow for three others lost in the wilderness in freezing conditions
- Michael Bowman, 57, was expected to finish a walk at Lake St Clair on Saturday
- An air, ground and water search for Mr Bowman continued on Tuesday morning
- Police also raised concerns for three people believed to be near Lake Pedder
- Meanwhile, Western Australia father and daughter will be rescued by helicopter
Michael Bowman, 57, was expected to finish a walk at Lake St Clair visitor centre in the state’s Central Highlands on Saturday, but hasn’t shown up
Search crews have resumed the hunt for a Victorian hiker, missing in snowy Tasmanian wilderness, with authorities worried about the safety of three other people in near-freezing conditions.
Michael Bowman, 57, was expected to finish a walk at Lake St Clair visitor centre in the state’s Central Highlands on Saturday, but hasn’t shown up.
An air, ground and water search for Mr Bowman continued on Tuesday morning, while police also raised concerns for an adult and two youths believed to be near Lake Pedder in the state’s rugged southwest.
The trio may have travelled in a white Toyota ute to the area on Sunday night or Monday morning.
‘Police are seeking further information with a view to divert resources including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to search for these three people,’ Acting Inspector Phil Curtis said.
Meanwhile, a Western Australia father and his daughter will be rescued by helicopter from Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park after getting into difficulty during blizzard-like weather at the weekend.
An air, ground and water search for Mr Bowman continued on Tuesday morning, while police also raised concerns for an adult and two youths believed to be near Lake Pedder in the state’s rugged southwest (pictured is Cradle Mountain)
‘It has not been fun, but I’ve also relied on the fact that he has done this sort of stuff before,’ the man’s partner Tracey Koziniec told the ABC.
‘He’s basically carrying out his plan for when things go bad, and he’s putting it into effect.
‘They’re still healthy, they’re tired and smelly, but they’re not in danger.’
Every hut on the popular Overland Track will be checked by helicopter for bushwalkers who may be in trouble.
About 30 people are understood to be hiking in the region, including a Hobart school group of 10, who are reportedly safe and intending to return on Tuesday.
Mr Bowman, an experienced bushwalker from Melbourne’s east, last contacted family about a week ago and hasn’t activated his emergency beacon.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Matthew Thomas told AAP he has serious concerns for any person left out in the cold.
‘Cold temperatures and strong winds increase the risk of hypothermia,’ he said of overnight conditions.
Police believe Mr Bowman set-up camp in a sheltered area to do day walks in the Mt Cuvier region before he became stuck in bad weather.
The temperature at Lake St Clair dropped to a low of 2C overnight, with strong winds and rain expected to wash away the weekend’s dump of snow.
Several bushwalkers had to be rescued on Monday, including a Brisbane man aged in his 40s from the north-west end of Lake St Clair.
Another two NSW hikers were plucked from the Walls of Jerusalem National Park to the south earlier in the day.
People are being urged not to go bushwalking unless they are well-prepared for freezing weather.