Search for missing man Christos Pittas wound back at Dinner Plain

Police are urging tourists to look out for missing grandfather Christos Pittas, or any evidence that may help police in finding him, after confirming they had scaled back their search.

Police are urging tourists to Victoria’s high country this weekend to look out for missing grandfather Christos Pittas, or any evidence that may help police in finding him, after confirming they had scaled back their search,

Police said on Saturday morning they were shifting their focus in the search for Mr Pittas in the Dinner Plain area.

“Police members supported by partner agencies, spontaneous volunteers and family have been determined and dedicated in their efforts to find Christos, a much-loved grandfather who was last seen on Friday, 13 May,” police said in a statement.

Christos Pittas vanished on Friday.

“Police coordinating the search have sought continual specialist advice in relation to the harsh alpine environment.

“The extreme conditions faced by someone lost in this harsh and unique alpine environment has shaped search efforts to date.

“Regardless of our continued and exhaustive search effort, Christos has not been located.

“We will continue to support and ensure ongoing welfare is provided to Christos’ family during this difficult time.

“Police will continue to assess all possibilities whilst maintaining smaller-scale searches in the coming days and should new information come to light the search will escalate accordingly.

“Officers will be maintaining a visible presence in the Dinner Plain area over the weekend, seeking information from the public about Christos and where he was last seen.”

Police added there would be a significant increase in tourism over the weekend in both Dinner Plain and Mt Hotham, with many people walking, hiking, riding and sightseeing through searched areas.

“We’re urging anyone who sights Christos or discovers any items or evidence that may support or assist police to call Triple-Zero (000), without delay. Non urgent information should be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” police said.

Search for Christos Pittas wound back

Victoria Police announced the Dinner Plain search party would be reduced from Thursday due to extreme weather conditions, as hopes of finding him rapidly decline.

However, aerial units, including drones and helicopters, will continue in the effort to find Mr Pittas.

“Police have wound back their numbers for the search of 70-year-old Christos following the extreme weather and snowfalls across the search area,” a spokeswoman said.

“The bush in this area is very dense and rugged requiring searches with specific skills and equipment.

“As search numbers scale back, extra attention is being applied to the aerial search with the use of drones and the police helicopter. Solo units (off road motorcycles) will join the search as a focus on outlying and more remote areas is searched.”

A mounted police officer scours the bush in the search for the missing man.

About 400 people have been involved in the search for Mr Pittas, including members from the mounted branch, search and rescue, air wing and local members, as well as BSAR, Ambulance Victoria, Parks Victoria, SES, Resort and Ski Lift staff along with local volunteers.

Police said the continuation of the search will be assessed day by day.

It comes after Mr Pittas’ devastated family said they were not prepared to walk away without finding him — dead or alive.

A tragic statement released by his four children shared their heartache following Mr Pittas’ disappearance in Dinner Plain on Friday.

“Our spirits remain high in finding our beloved father, husband, uncle, brother, friend and grandfather Christos,” the children said.

“Regardless of the condition he is in, we are desperate to find him for our family’s peace and closure.

“We just don’t have it in our hearts to walk away without him.”

The family thanked searchers and the public for their efforts in the extreme weather.

“We are so grateful for the local community support we have received and we can’t thank the search team, police, volunteers and wider community enough for all they have done so far,” the statement read.

“The overwhelming amount of messages we have received from our friends and family have been getting us through this difficult time.

“We thank you with all our love. Our prayers are constantly with him.”

Search in treacherous conditions

Inspector Paul Hargreaves said the search party would resume their efforts on Thursday for a seventh day.

He said it was a day-by-day scenario and the force was not willing to give up just yet.

“Significant snowfall has made it difficult and unfortunately we haven’t had any great success at this point,” he said.

“We had to refine our search today because of the specialist skills required to work in these conditions.

“We will continue tomorrow to look for Christos. We are hoping the weather will clear on Thursday.”

He added Wednesday’s snowfall had led to a temporary change in tactics as officers were unable to search deep valleys.

Insp Hargreaves said the weekend would see a “significant movement of tourism” in the region and he asked anyone in the area to keep a look out for Mr Pittas.

“We will try to capitalise on the weekend,” he said.

“If anyone sees anything or has any information we urge them to call Crime Stoppers.”

Senior Constable Joel Magno-Thornton, who is heading up the search and rescue squad, on Tuesday said conditions were declining by the hour.

Greensborough grandfather Christos Pittas vanished while searching for emus in Dinner Plain's wild terrain on Friday.

“We are actually putting some of them (searchers) in harm’s way, to be looking for a missing person — we have to be very mindful of that,” he said.

“The temperature has dropped 10C over the past three or four days. We are -2C tonight. The temperature affects everybody, the terrain out there is wet and damp.”

Mr Magno-Thornton described the search zone terrain as “treacherous”.

“If you go off the tracks you can be lost within meters of leaving the track,” he said.

“If someone is lying down injured on the ground you may not see them, even if you are standing right next to them.

“It is very easy to become lost, the high plains is a dangerous area to be in.”

But he said police “remained hopeful” they could find Mr Pittas.

“In this kind of environment you can survive for a long time,” Sen Con Magno-Thornton said.

“If you find shelter or a couple of logs, you can stay out of the rain and the wind. If he has found something to hide under and get out of the wind, it is a very high chance he is still alive.

“We have got specialist people everywhere on this search, so I’m really hoping we can come up with a result.”

Police Forward Commander Inspector Paul Hargreaves said the team would reassess weather conditions on Tuesday night.

“We are expecting snow later, that does make it quite perilous,” he said.

Searching for emus

The Greensborough grandfather vanished on Friday afternoon after venturing into the Dinner Plain wilderness in search of emus.

His wife and children are among those searching for him in Victoria’s alpine region.

Mr Pittas was last seen wearing a long-sleeve top, long-sleeve jumper, pants and Crocs.

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

The temperature reached a low of -2.8C on Tuesday, with winds reaching a peak of 69km/h overnight.

The family of Mr Pittas said time was against them.

The dense terrain being scoured by search parties.

“My dear father Christos has been missing since Friday and was last seen when he left for an afternoon stroll,” daughter Elia Bird posted online.

“We assume he got lost off of one of the many hiking trails and perhaps injured himself.

“Time is against us with the snow coming in.

“If you know any experienced people who can assist with the search please get in touch. My family would be so grateful to hear from you.”

His family described the 70-year-old as a “kind and loving person” who enjoys nature and adventure.

“Our dad is a kind and loving person, a lover of nature, with an adventurous spirit,” the family said in a statement on Monday.

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

Rescuers are faced with challenging terrain.

“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.”

Mr Hargreaves said vacant holiday homes had been searched and drones would be used on Tuesday.

“They can get down into those tighter spots and obviously search a little bit quicker for us,” he said.

“The difficulty is while there is a number of open trails and tracks, there is a lot of foliage off the side of those tracks.

“You only have to walk a short distance and if you were to fall over and down, it would be very hard to see you so we need to go back over those tracks.”

Police swarm Dinner Plain in the search for the missing man. Picture: Brianna Travers

Part-time Dinner Plain resident Matt MacDonald said he was hoping for the best.

“I would like to see Christos found,” he said.

“It’s amazing how everyone pulls together. I feel so sad for the family. It is awful.

“Everyone is trying to do the right thing and find him.”

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 Mr Pittas’ description in the area.

Mr Pittas is described by police as “very fit”, but was not dressed for the conditions and may have suffered an injury while out.

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

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