Tarci Carey search party grows as desperate search enters third week

Specialised trackers have joined an increasingly desperate search for Nambour nursery worker Tarci Carey in dense and impenetrable bushland south of Gympie. SEE THE TIMELINE:

A crack team of eight specialised trackers have joined an increasingly desperate search for missing Nambour man Tarci Carey, which entered its third week on Monday, August 22.

Mr Carey, 22, was last seen leaving his home at Meditation Court, Nambour, on Friday, August 5 about 4am to go to work at Dakabin on the outskirts of north Brisbane.

But he never arrived.

His car, a silver Mitsubishi Lancer, was then found by four-wheel drive enthusiasts in the Imbil State Forest in dense bushland on Saturday morning, August 6; but the alarm was not raised until the group saw a desperate plea for help from Mr Carey’s family on social media.

A major search, including SES, police and a band of dedicated volunteers, was then established in the Brooloo State Forest on Monday, August 8.

The search was temporarily scaled back on August 12, but has since restarted.

Now, as the desperate search to find Mr Carey enters its third week, police have confirmed a special task force of remote trackers has joined the search party.

The Queensland Remote Area Tracking team is described on their website as a not for profit organisation comprised of highly trained volunteers, including experienced rural firefighters, SES and military workers.

The team specialises in search and rescue operations for missing people in dense bushland as well as natural disasters.

Imbil Sergeant Bill Greer said it was the first time the team had been engaged by police, and they were brought in due to their special skills working in remote areas.

“Given the terrain and the location, it’s very difficult … and can be very dangerous,” he said.

The search area remains in the Brooloo State Forest, but Sgt Greer said the team was “constantly expanding out”.

There was no specific reason as to why the group had been engaged three weeks into the search rather than in the beginning.

“We’ve certainly identified some areas we were not able to traverse, and we believe they will be able to traverse,” Sgt Greer said.

The QRAT team is expected to be involved in the search for at least three days, but this may be extended depending on how long the team takes to search the area.

As of 3.15pm on Tuesday, August 23, there had been no sighting of Mr Carey or any new developments in the search.

Rescue crews and a team of dedicated volunteers in the Imbil State Forest at Brooloo searching for missing man Tarci Carey.

Sgt Greer told The Gympie Times on August 10, police were also investigating other explanations for Mr Carey’s disappearance as a matter of procedure, which included foul play.

Mr Carey’s co-worker Tigerlily Boyce told the Gympie Times on August 19 she felt like rescuers were “shouting into the void” as she called on the public for dashcam footage or any evidence regarding Mr Carey’s last movements.

He was described as caucasian in appearance, roughly 190cm tall with a proportionate build, brown hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a grey jumper with blue and red stripes and long black pants.

Anyone with information about Mr Carey’s whereabouts or who may have seen his car between August 5 and August 8 is urged to contact police.