Search ramps up for missing Hervey Bay man Dylan Driessens

State Emergency Service crews, water police and the dog squad have gathered at Hervey Bay as the search ramps up for a young man who has been missing for a month.

The search for a missing Hervey Bay man has been ramped up on Saturday, with State Emergency Service crews from across the Wide Bay joining police in an effort to find any trace of him.

Dylan Driessens, 23, was last seen on June 24 about 3pm walking along a bike path towards Elizabeth St, Urangan.

Since then, his family has launched a desperate search, with his brother Joel speaking to the Chronicle last month to ask the community to help bring Dylan home.

On Saturday, SES crews started their search in dense bushland near Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens in the hopes of locating any sign of Dylan.

The search began about 8am, with Senior Constable Cara Wessels co-ordinating the effort.

She said Dylan was last seen on the bush path directly behind the bushland in Urangan that was the focus of the search effort.

“He was seen to be holding a bottle of rum and a kick board,” she said.

“He told his younger brother he was going for a swim at the beach.

“Unfortunately Dylan hasn’t been seen since that date.

“We have grave concerns for his safety and wellbeing as we’ve had no sign of him since he was last seen by his younger brother.”

As well as SES crews, water police will also help search, in particular lakes and other bodies of water in the bushland area.

Snr Const. Wessels said about 35 members of SES teams from across the Wide Bay had volunteered to help.

“We have search and rescue co-ordinators from the Queensland Police,” she said.

“We have the Queensland Police dog squad assisting and also family and friends of Dylan’s who have come out today to help with the search.”

Snr Const. Wessels said she was happy with the turn out and while it was not a huge area they were covering, it was very dense bushland.

“With the amount of people who have come out to help, we’re hoping we can find some sign of Dylan and return him to his family.”

The police had been working closely with Dylan’s family she said, with police meeting them on Friday to discuss plans for the search.

She said it had been a difficult time for his family as they waited for news of their loved one.

Snr Const. Wessels said when Dylan was first reported missing, there had been extensive searches carried out by police in the areas where he was last seen.

Dylan was close to his family and his disappearance was out of character, she said

His family had done some extensive searches of the area, but unfortunately nothing had been discovered.

He was last seen walking towards Urangan Pier wearing a black beanie, green hoodie, black jean shorts and grey and white joggers.

Dylan is described as caucasian in appearance, about 175cm tall with a proportionate build, light brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos on his hands.

Anyone with information can contact Policelink on 131 444.