Missing bushwalkers found after going missing at Mt Buffalo on Friday
The hikers who spent five days lost on Mt Buffalo have described their frosty nights beneath the stars as “lovely”, saying they were never too far from help as they survived on snacks and water from a nearby stream.
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The hikers who spent five days lost on Mount Buffalo described the frosty nights as “serenity” and say they were never too far from help.
Trevor Salvado, 60, and Cindy Bohan, 58, survived on snacks after becoming lost about two hours into a hike on Friday.
The pair today emerged from hospital flanked by family with only scratches to their legs.
NINE VIC TRAIN LINES OFF TRACK OVER NEXT THREE WEEKS
Mr Salvado said they spent the four nights in bush near where they were found.
Today they ran out of food and decided it was time to venture out for help.
“We could hear the choppers and speed boats on Lake Buffalo,” he said.
“We could hear campers, cows, a dog and see some lights.
“We were always confident we would be found and that we were not far away from help but we had a 250ft drop in front so we took four days to see if we could get out.”
While friends and family feared for their safety, Mr Salvado described nights beneath the stars on the mountain as “serenity.”
“It was lovely,” he said.
Ms Bohan said they became lost after walking off the marked track.
“People probably thought we would be really injured and we weren’t,” she said.
Mr Salvado said they kept a cool head throughout the journey.
They survived off a day pack of food and water from a nearby stream.
“We just were sensible, kept calm and rational and that’s what helped us out,” he said.
The couple were found after flagging down a minibus of TAFE students planning to kayak on the lake.
Mr Salvado said he and his wife were prepared to walk to the nearby town of Nug Nug to find help.
Maria Bohan said she was beyond relieved to know her sister and brother-in-law were safe and well.
“I am lost for words now but when we heard - you should have heard me shouting,” she said.
Another sister, Anne Ditchfield, said she was sure the pair would be “grumpy” with themselves for getting lose.
“They walked out, that’s all that matters,” she said.
“We were so excited I think all of Bright heard they’d been found.
“I can believe they bloody well walked out I tell you. They’ll be grumpy with themselves but it’s terrific,” she said.
WHERE HIKERS WERE FOUND
The couple emerged from the bush near Yarrarabula Creek Track, located southeast of Lake Buffalo after 11am today.
The rescue point is located about 9km from where they parked their car on Friday morning.
Police say Mr Salvado and Ms Bohan braved the elements and hiked through the difficult terrain since losing their way five days ago.
The pair was taken to Myrtleford police station before they were transported to Wangaratta Hospital via ambulance and treated for exposure and dehydration.
Trevor was seen walking into the hospital as his wife was stretchered in.
Senior Sergeant Damien Peppler said they were in “good spirits” and eager to be reunited with their family.
Sen Sgt Peppler said the couple used their bush skills to survive the five-day ordeal.
“If it wasn’t for their knowledge and skills in the bush they would have found it much more difficult,” he said.
“They rationed their food and did a really good job.”
The survivors’ family have returned to the mountain to thank rescuers for their incredible search efforts.
Maria and Gerard Bohan, siblings of Cindy, shook hands with and praised rescuers as they spoke of their intense relief their sister and brother-in-law had been found.
“I am lost for words now but when we heard — you should have heard me
shouting,” said Maria.
Sen Sgt Peppler said they never gave up hope the experienced hikers would be found.
“We were always hopeful we would find them. It was unusual that two would go missing together,” he said.
The couple was last seen at a Cherry Lane caravan park in Bright before setting off on what was supposed to be a three-hour hike at Mount Buffalo on Friday.
They were expected to return about 12.30pm, and their car was found near Reservoir Track on Saturday.
The miraculous discovery comes after the rescue mission was today scaled up as the search entered its fifth day.
The area where they vanished is a rugged mix of bush and ravines and there was earlier speculation that one of them might have fallen into one of the ravines, and the other went in to help.
Before the search was called off, large search crews today scoured walking tracks east of Lake Catani, after covering significant ground across other parts of the rugged mountain.
SON’S PLEA FOR PARENTS
Friends raised the alarm when Mr Salvado and Ms Bohan did not arrive as expected on Friday.
The couple’s children, Nathan, 21, Issac, 23, and Rachel, 19, gathered with family at the search post over the long weekend.
“I want them to know we are looking them and doing as much as we can to find them,” Nathan said yesterday. “I just want them to be warm and safe.”
The couple’s other children, Isaac, 23, and Rachel, 19, gathered with extended family members at the Mt Buffalo search post as rescuers scoured the surrounding terrain.
Nathan last spoke to his parents on Wednesday or Thursday when they informed him they were going on a bush walk with their usual group of friends.
“A lot is going through my head,” he said.
Cindy’s older sister, Maria Bohan, said they were “staying strong”.
“We are being tough … We hope they are safe and found very soon,” she said.
The family thanked police and emergency services for their tireless efforts searching the mountain.
Nathan said his parents are both incredibly supportive and love the outdoors.
“They are funny. They believe in you. They are such nice people,” he said.
He said his dad enjoyed riding, bushwalking and paragliding, while his mum was an avid gardener who dedicated time to volunteer community projects.
Anne Ditchfield said she couldn’t wait to be reunited with her sister.
“We haven’t seen them but they walked out, that’s all that matters,” she said.
“We were so excited I think all of bright heard they’d been found.
“I can’t believe they bloody well walked out I tell you. They’ll be grumpy with themselves but it’s terrific.
“She’s got scratches, we haven’t seen her.”
HOW THE SEARCH UNFOLDED
More than 120 people were involved in the alpine rescue operation, which initially focused on an area in a 500m radius of where their car was found.
Emergency service workers burst into cheers and clapped when they heard the couple had been found.
A wave of excitement and relief swept over the Mount Buffalo search post where rescuers gathered to celebrate news of their survival.
Searchers used thermal night-vision and GPS technology, to ensure that every centimetre of the search zone is covered.
At the time, Bush Search and Rescue Victoria spokesman Peter Campbell said volunteers would were searching off-track areas after covering off all formed tracks.
The hikes on the mountain required very little experience, he said.
The Westpac search and rescue helicopter joined the police air wing at the search zone.
GPS trackers were fitted to those scouring the terrain to make sure all areas have been covered.
SES volunteers also guarded the entrance of Mount Buffalo and showed drivers an image of the missing couple in the hope someone might know more about their whereabouts.
Dozens of SES, bush search and rescue and police members scoured the ground, as a police chopper searched from above.
The mounted branch and motorcyclists was also involved.
SES deputy controller Graham Gales said crews were “climbing and looking under every rock”.
FRIENDS’ HOPEFUL WAIT FOR COUPLE
Friend Sav De Vuono, along with her husband Mario and two other couples, remained at the campsite where they waited for Trevor and Cindy to return over the weekend.
“The type of people they are, they’re fighters, they’re out there and they know what they are doing, so we can’t understand it,” Mrs De Vuono said.
“He’s an ex-pilot, he just retired in December, so he’s pretty switched on and just a barrel of laughs, he’s an amazing guy.
“Cindy works in community health and transition into schools, she’s a schoolteacher by trade.
“They both do a lot of hiking, they’ve done a lot of things more dangerous than going for a walk, and Cindy, she just got back from New Zealand doing a hike there.”
Mrs De Vuono said despite their kids getting older and no longer coming on the camping trips, the four couples still loved the annual get-together.
“We’ve been here for nine years, nothing changes,” she said. “It’s just out of control.”
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