Fears grow for elderly man missing since Christmas Day
The search for an elderly man missing in dense, mine shaft-riddled bushland has ended after his body was found near Glenpatrick this morning.
Police & Courts
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The search for missing man Ian Winfield has come to an end after his body was discovered within the Pyrenees Range State Forest near Glenpatrick this morning.
Police and emergency services located his body during their planned search just before midday.
Serpentine man Ian Whinfield, 82, was last seen by family on Christmas Day about 4pm in Lake Bolac.
Inspector Dan Davison said police were notified the following day he had not returned home.
His “distinctive” red Nissan ute was discovered on the Emery Track in Glenpatrick, about 95km away, on December 27.
“I hope he is alive, but the state has been sweltering and it is tough terrain,” Inspector Davison said earlier.
“I briefed the team this morning, it is unlikely he will be alive considering if he was out for this long he would have survived.
“The indication was he didn’t have any food or water with him.”
Sixty people today conducted a large-scale search of bushland in the Glenpatrick area.
They included the search and rescue squad, the mounted branch, SES volunteers, regular police officers and detectives.
“His vehicle was found on a really steep incline,” Inspector Davison said.
“That is the epicentre of our search. The radius is yet to be determined. We are looking at all angles from the location of the ute.”
The area is a former mining location and precautions needed to be taken throughout the search due to a number of mine shafts.
Police understand Mr Whinfield was wearing brown pants, green shirt, brown boots and a light-coloured cap with a logo on the front.
His disappearance is not being treated as suspicious.
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“We don’t know what has happened, all avenues of the inquiry are ongoing,” Inspector Davison said.
“He has come to a point, he may have gone off on foot to look for help, we really don’t know.”
Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen Mr Whinfield or his vehicle to contact Avoca Police Station on 03 5465 3300.