‘Loner’, 25, found after three weeks in a crocodile-infested rainforest may have been deliberately HIDING there
- Victorian man Milan Lemic vanished on December 22 and was found on Monday
- He spent three weeks in crocodile-infested Daintree rainforest in Queensland
- Police think it is possible that he may have been hiding the whole time
Milan Lemic, 25, (pictured) was last seen with his bogged ute at Bairds Crossing near the Upper Daintree Village on December 23. He was found alive on Monday afternoon
A man who spent three weeks in Queensland’s Daintree rainforest may have been deliberately hiding from police and SES volunteers who were searching for him.
Victorian man Milan Lemic vanished on December 22 after walking away from his bogged ute at Bairds Crossing near the Upper Daintree village.
Police located him late on Monday afternoon after a motorcyclist on the rugged Creb Track nearby spotted him and raised the alarm.
‘We cannot confirm at this time that this is a remarkable story of survival,’ Inspector Denis Fitzpatrick told reporters in Cairns on Tuesday.
‘It could well be a case of active avoidance for some time – from police, and other authorities like the SES who have volunteered their time and energy to try and locate this person.’
Insp Fitzpatrick said there was concern for Mr Lemic’s mental health and he’d been taken to a safe place as detectives wait to interview him.
The Victorian man’s disappearance sparked fears he could have been eaten by crocodiles inhabiting the Daintree Rain Forest (pictured)
He said one avenue of inquiry was likely to be whether the 29-year-old was helped by anyone during the time he was missing.
‘That is a firm possibility, and that will probably be a tangent of investigation to explain his survivability and level of health in these conditions for well over three weeks.’
Mr Lemic has not told police much about the weeks he was missing, but did say he survived by eating berries from the rainforest.
Insp Fitzpatrick said he did not try to run from police, who used all-terrain vehicles to reach him on the track.
‘He was assisting and obliging with the police. Physically (he was) very dishevelled. Mentally, as I’ve said, we have concerns for his mental stability.
‘We’re hoping that his condition will improve so we can get a confirmed version from him.’
Mr Lemic said he had survived by eating berries and other fruit – after initial fears he had been taken by a croc
The search for Mr Lemic has been mired in mystery from the start.
On the day he vanished, a passer-by noticed his bogged ute and offered to go and get a tractor to pull it out.
But by the time the Good Samaritan returned 20 minutes later Mr Lemic had vanished, sparking initial fears he may have been taken by a crocodile.