Man, 70, failed to return from walk in Dinner Plain

The family of a “kind and loving” grandad missing in Victoria’s alpine region is holding out hope he will be found alive.

The family of a missing Greensborough grandfather has not lost hope that he will be found after three nights missing in freezing alpine conditions.

Christos, 70, vanished on Friday afternoon after venturing off into the Dinner Plain wilderness in search of emus.

His family has described him as a “kind and loving person” who enjoys nature and adventure.

They are praying for his safe return amid forecasts of snow on Monday evening.

“We are devastated knowing that our dad Christos is still missing in Mount Hotham’s high country,” the family said in a statement.

“Our dad is a kind and loving person, a lover of nature, with an adventurous spirit.

“He is a grandfather to four beautiful granddaughters and we know he would love to see them again.

“He is adored by his children, wife, family and friends and everyone else who knows him.

“We are all praying that his strong and resilient nature will find his way back to us,” they said.

“We would like to thank the local community, Victoria Police and everyone else involved for their ongoing pursuits to help find Christos.”

The search for the 70-year-old resumed Monday as temperatures in Dinner Plain dropped as low as 1C over the weekend.

Christos is missing after a walk in Dinner Plain. Picture: supplied

Police from Melbourne’s public order response team have been brought in to assist with the search.

Officers in high vis are doorknocking locals to alert them to the unfolding situation.

They are asking members of the public to be on the look out.

Officers are going door to door and using flashlights to search under properties.

Many chalets in the area are currently vacant, adding to the difficulty of the search.

Michelle Hems, who works in Dinner Plain, said she learnt about the missing man via the news.

She said police had doorknocked her asking if she had seen Christos.

“Hopefully they find him soon,” she said.

“Hopefully he’s bundled up somewhere. It’s too cold. We’re expecting snow, it’s freezing.”

Ms Hems said she had seen lots of police cars and the police chopper circling overhead.

Police and family hold grave fears for his welfare, given the frosty conditions and reports he may be injured or disoriented.

The temperature at Dinner Plain was just 1C on Monday evening.

Staff at Hotel High Plains in Dinner Plain are bracing for a huge night as hundreds of emergency service workers stay overnight.

“We are happy to help out while the community bands together for the search,” manager Lily said.

“We saw a big influx of people coming in last night. We’re hoping for the best possible outcome.”

More than 120 people are involved in the search party.

Officers remain eager to speak to a member of the public who told an SES volunteer at 5pm on Friday they had seen someone of Christos’ description in the area.

Christos was described by police as “very fit” however he was not dressed for the conditions and may have suffered an injury while out walking local tracks in search of emus.

Hopes he has found shelter in the wild terrain are slowly fading, with forecasts of snow to set in by Tuesday.

Police vehicles have gathered at Dinner Plain searching for the missing man Christos. Picture: Brianna Travers

It comes after up to 25 bush rescue volunteers joined the search for Christos on Sunday.

The Bush Search and Rescue Victoria members were combing the rugged terrain to find the man who vanished from Dinner Plain last Friday.

Police said Christos, 70, went for a walk to see emus reported in the area.

He was last seen on Big Muster Drive about 2.45pm on Friday.

Inspector Paul Hargreaves hoped Christos had found shelter.

“What we do hope, that if he is hurt or has become disorientated that he has actually gotten himself in a position of shelter,” Insp Hargreaves said.

“We are mindful of the weather conditions up here – it gets very cold, particularly at night.”

Insp Paul Hargreaves said 120 people will search for Christos on Monday.

“We will have a focus on searching bushland and off the trails today,” Insp Hargreaves said.

“Fair to say we have saturated the area that is immediate to where Christos was last seen.”

Authorities received a report from a runner who believed they had encountered a man matching Christos’ description on Friday night.

“That was in the opposite direction to where we believed he had gone,” Insp Hargreaves said.

“It was the Brabralung long track trail, he was in a kilometre of the Dinner Plain.

“We have sought through resources from our external agencies which includes Park Victoria, Search and Rescue, SES and certainly our own resources which includes the air wing.”

Insp Hargreaves said windy conditions had made use of air support difficult but that they hoped the air wing could join the search on Monday.

The search for a man last seen in Dinner Plain is continuing. Picture: Google

“The conditions have been reasonably favourable for us only as far as the temperature, it’s been about nine degrees, quite windy, that gives us a lot of hope,” he said.

The Alpine National Park area has many popular trails.

Insp Hargreaves asked anyone with information to reach out to the police.

“We are keen to hear if anybody has been up there over the weekend, has anybody travelled those tracks or trails.”

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria member Rod Costigan said at least 25 volunteers from the group were helping to look for the man, along with police, Parks Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and SES.

Steve Belli is assisting heavily with search efforts. He said an extended amount of volunteers, police, SES, ski patrol, RMB, bush search and rescue, birkbiner club and lift co staff would be joining the search on Monday.

Unfortunately there have been no sightings in the terrain covered from airport to Hotham. Reports say the terrain is very wet.

“The commitment and passion by our locals, police and emergency service is quite incredible and the whole process is a well-oiled machine. The terrain is quite thick and a lot of walking was done between tracks yesterday,” Mr Belli wrote on Facebook.

Locals have also used social media to appeal to residents to check their security camera footage for any signs of Christos.

Christos was last seen wearing a long sleeve top, long sleeve jumper, pants and crocs.

Police urge anyone with information to contact triple-0 or the Wangaratta Police station on [phone].