Search for missing student Poshik Sharma comes to tragic end

A desperate four-day search for a missing Werribee student has come to a tragic end after the grim discovery of a body in Marysville.

A body, believed to be missing Werribee man Poshik Sharma, 21, was located in Marysville at 11am this morning.

A desperate search for a man missing in subzero temperatures for more than three days has come to a tragic end.

A body, believed to be missing Werribee man Poshik Sharma, 21, was located in Marysville at 11am this morning.

The grim discovery brings a four day search for the international student to a sad end after he was reported missing on Friday by friends.

Mr Sharma, hadn’t been seen since he left the Duck Inn pub in Marysville, in the Yarra Valley northeast of Melbourne, on Thursday ­afternoon.

Victoria Police issued a statement today saying the 21-year-olds death was not being treated as suspicious.

The international student was heading to Victoria’s ­alpine region with friends but disappeared after he walked from the venue following an argument.

Police tape off street near where the body was discovered. Picture: Jason Edwards

SES members assisted in the search. Picture: Jason Edwards

Friends reported him missing the next morning after ­realising Mr Sharma had not returned to their accommodation, sending authorities into a full-scale search.

Benalla Inspector David Ryan said the discovery was sad for all involved.

“There was always hope that we would find him. I personally believed he was back in Melbourne. I didn’t think for a minute we would find him deceased.”

“It’s very disappointing.”

Two witnesses — who came forward last night and early this morning — pointed authorities to the Marysville Road, Insp Ryan said.

“A witness who initially came forward late yesterday afternoon and a further witness that came forward this morning, which confirmed that he was trying to hitchhike out of town — trying to leave Marysville,” he said.

SES crews searching the township then located the body about 11am on Monday in dense bushland.

The Duck Inn. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Volunteers searched dense bushland in cold and wet conditions. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Insp Ryan said the deceased man’s family had been notified and support networks put in place.

“It’s not something we expected to have happened and it’s certainly devastating for the family. They were very hopeful that with the effort going in we would find Poshik.”

He thanked the efforts of emergency service workers who had battled through testing conditions for four days.

Emergency service workers were thanked for their efforts. Picture: Jason Edwards

“There’s a lot of effort gone into trying to locate to Poshik. An outstanding effort from everyone involved and we really do thank them. And it’s a shame we didn’t have a positive result.”

Mr Sharma’s housemate, Sandeep Bhullar, said she hadn’t been able to sleep since her friend vanished.

“We last saw him on Wednesday. He left home at 9.30pm on Wednesday and he told my husband, ‘Okay bye, we are going to go to Mount Buller’,” Mrs Bhullar said.

MORE NEWS:

TEEN GANGS ‘RIP AND RUN’ HITS ON JB HI-HI STORES

HOW DISGRACED SWIMMER BEAT DRUG TESTERS

NEIGHBOURS ‘SCARED’ OF FAMILY DOG THAT MAULED BOY

“When someone knocks at our house we pray to God that, please, He has sent him home.”

Mrs Bhullar said Mr Sharma moved into the house a month ago and they would often eat dinner or watch television together.

Yesterday police divers, mounted officers and the SES dog squad spent hours scouring the area, including walking tracks and hills leading to nearby Lake Mountain.

A dam was also drained and a creek combed for clues.

Thick bushland surrounds the township, adding to the already tough winter conditions.

A report will now be prepared for the coroner.