Missing 60-year-old Aurukun man Burt Wikmunea found on August 6

A remote Far North community showed its neighbourly spirit with locals banding together in their own time to help search for a man who was missing for three days. How he was found

UPDATE SATURDAY: THE Aurukun community has banded together to find a 60-year-old man missing in rugged bushland from almost three days.

Search and rescue operations began on Wednesday August 3 after his family raised the alarm.

By Friday, more than 40 volunteers, members of the public, Aurukun council staff, local business owners, family and friends had joined in search efforts across the ground, land and sea.

Aurkun Officer in Charge Senior Sergeant Amit Singh said the outpouring of support from the community was incredible.

“All I did was ask for help and everyone just jumped in. The local council knocked their staff off early on Friday to help, even the teachers finished early and jumped in again today (Saturday) on their days off,” Senior Sergeant Singh said.

“There were volunteers from Weipa and Cairns, rangers on ATVs and officers on horses thanks to a local station owner.

“It was a co-ordinated effort through some very tough and rugged terrain.”

After almost three days, the 60-year-old man was found in swamp area near the Airport just after 11am.

Senior Sergeant Singh said he was exhausted but stable and transported to hospital for further treatment.

“Thank you to all the organisations, community members, my officers and the state co-ordination unit for mobilising such an amazing bunch of people to come together for this job because as an Officer in Charge, this is the worst thing that can happen in the unit, so I’m relieved it was a good outcome,” Senior Sergeant Singh said.

FRIDAY: A SEARCH is underway for a 60-year-old Aurukun man that has been missing since Wednesday.

Burt Wikmunea was last seen at 4pm at his Enyan Circuit home in Aurukun.

His family is concerned knowing Mr Wikmunea suffers from a medical condition.

He is described as Aboriginal, 170cm tall with a skinny build, a white bushy beard and white curly hair, wearing a green T-shirt and black shorts.

Queensland Police, volunteers, friends and family begun the search on Thursday which has yielded no results.

While the search remains ongoing, police are urging Aurukun residents to check their yards and houses for Mr Wikmunea and to contact police with any information that may assist in locating him.

Originally published as Missing 60-year-old Aurukun man Burt Wikmunea found on August 6