Missing man Timothy Hicks found alive and well, daughter says he was ‘living his best life’ camping before being found
A man who was reported missing by his daughter has been found alive and well — and completely unaware of the stress his holiday was causing. Read how he found out he was being searched for.
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July 24: A Top End groundsman has shared his experiences of talking shop and having beers with a camper on the Victoria River – who he later discovered was missing.
Victoria River Roadhouse groundsman Vic Harper – who said he goes fishing every morning before work – said he came across a bloke who “was full of life” on one of his morning fishing forays.
But unbeknownst to Mr Harper, the man he was talking to was missing man Tim Hicks - whose family were searching for him after he hadn’t made contact with them in weeks.
“He’d been out there about five weeks; he’s having a good time,” Mr Harper said of Mr Hicks.
“When I was catching fish, if I had some to spare, I’d give him fish, and yeah, have a quick chat in the morning.
“He was in perfect health, good spirits, good health, and everything was under control.”
Mr Harper said Mr Hicks had perched himself in quite the picturesque location, as he was camping right on the Victoria River where it intersected with a creek.
However, that was so remote not even a “carrier pigeon” would be able to get there, according to Mr Harper.
“He had his little four-wheel-drive with a verandah off to one side, and a couple of bush poles holding the verandah up, and chair that he sits in underneath ... he had a stone fireplace made for his camp,” Mr Harper said.
Mr Harper said he interacted with Mr Hicks “multiple times” before coming across a Facebook post which said he was missing.
“I went fishing, and I told Tim that, and he said ‘oh’,” Mr Harper said.
“He said they shouldn’t worry, because he’s a very experienced bushman, and he has everything under control. ”
Mr Hicks’ daughter, Katie Hicks – who raised the alarm her father was missing over Facebook – said he would be travelling back to Darwin this weekend.
‘Living his best life’: ‘Missing’ dad’s camping trip takes an unexpected turn
JULY 23: One father’s Top End camping trip has taken an unexpected turn after he was reported missing by his daughter – who says he was living his “best life” and was unaware people were searching for him.
On July 20, 67-year-old Timothy Hicks was reported missing by his family, sparking a search for his whereabouts.
Northern Territory police said he had left New South Wales on June 22, and was travelling in a green camouflage Mazda BT-50 with Queensland registration.
An experienced traveller, Mr Hicks was known to camp in the bush – but this time was different, as he hadn’t made contact with his family, and should have already arrived in Darwin, according to his daughter Katie Hicks.
But Ms Hicks said he had now been found, and is in the Timber Creek police station where she spoke to him.
After speaking with him, Ms Hicks said her dad “didn’t realise a whole search party was out looking for him”.
“Apparently (he) has a wicked campsite and been fishing for a month,” she said.
“Seemed to just be living his best life.”
Ms Hicks put a post up on Facebook looking for her father, and thanked those who shared the post and helped spread the word.
Mr Hicks is heading up to Darwin this weekend, his daughter said.
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