David John Grimes, 84, dies in hospital after surviving two nights trapped in bushland near Gayndah

An 84-year-old man who was rescued after spending two wintry nights trapped in North Burnett bushland with his two dogs has sadly died in hospital. All the latest developments:

An elderly man has tragically passed away in hospital after being rescued after two nights lost in North Burnett bushland.

A search and rescue operation was first launched to find David John Grimes last Monday after he was reported missing by his nephew from a Penwhaupell property, south of Gayndah.

A three-day multi-agency search, which included family and volunteers on foot, quad bikes and horseback, found the 84-year-old trapped in the Back Creek area on Wednesday afternoon.

Rescuers said Mr Grimes was extremely difficult to spot and it was the barking of his two Jack Russell terriers waiting loyally by his side that alerted them to his location.

Mr Grimes was then found him in water at a location obscured by rocks.

David John Grimes, 84, and his two dogs were rescued after they were reported missing from a Penwhaupell property on Monday. Photo/QPS

Mr Grimes’ nephew, Richard Grimes, said the search party was riding horses down a gully when they “heard the little dogs bark”.

He said his uncle took the dogs for a walk down a nearby paddock every afternoon, and he believed recent flooding confused the older man and caused him to go the wrong way.

Mr Grimes was flown to Bundaberg Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia after two nights in single-digit temperatures, but he died on Thursday evening.