Two women located after search entered second day

Two women who have been missing for more than 24 hours have been located in Nanango bushland. Emergency crews rushed through rough terrain to rescue the women, who were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. WATCH THE VIDEO

A search and rescue for two women who went missing after a fossicking trip to 7 Mile Diggings near Nanango on Friday ended midday on Sunday with both women located and transported to hospital.

For almost 36 hours, police, State Emergency Services, and Polair assisted with locating the two women, Michelle Lyn Melbourne (54) and Nikita May Bennett (36), after they were last seen leaving Nanango Tarong Rd around 11am on Friday.

The two women were found by some trail bike riders early Sunday morning in what was described as a “hut”, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

They were found beside a waterfall within a 1km radius of where their belongings were.

Inspector Russell Reynolds said the noise from the water obstructed the hearing, along with very “rough and tough terrain”.

Two women who have been missing for more than 24 hours have been located in Nanango bushland. Emergency crews rushed through rough terrain to rescue the women, who were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. June 25, 2023

Emergency crews immediately rushed to their assistance, navigating the waterfall and rough terrain in order to assure they were safe and sound.

It is believed the women got lost after walking in the wrong direction, had felt ill, and as the sun was going down, sought shelter in a hut, or old bush structure by the waterfall, Mr Reynolds said.

They did not have their phones on them to call for assistance.

The women were airlifted to Kingaroy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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Michelle Lyn Melbourne is one of two women who was rescued after she went missing on a fossicking trip to 7 Mile Diggings on Friday, June 23,2023.

Nikita May Bennett is one of two women who was rescued after she went missing on a fossicking trip to 7 Mile Diggings on Friday, June 23,2023.

Police said the pair left to go prospecting at 7 Mile Diggings on Old Esk North Road, about 10km south of Nanango towards Yarraman in the South Burnett. The area is an old fossicking site dating back to the late 1900s.

A white Ford Falcon ute belonging to the women was found at the site, locked and secured with their mobile phones inside.

Two women who have been missing for more than 24 hours have been located in Nanango bushland. Emergency crews rushed through rough terrain to rescue the women, who were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. June 25, 2023

Concerned that the women had a misadventure, police, SES, and Queensland Remote Area Tracking continued the search early Sunday morning, urging local residents and property owners to check their sheds and farm houses in case the women found shelter for the night.

The bushland surrounding 7 Mile Diggings is rough and steep, and night-time temperatures drop towards freezing.

Police thanked the public for their assistance in the operation.