Desperate Search for Missing Hiker in Glass House Mountains Intensifies
As Time Runs Out, Concerns Grow for 20-Year-Old’s Safety
A massive search operation is underway in the Glass House Mountains range on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to find a 20-year-old hiker who has been missing since Sunday afternoon. The young man from Mountain Creek was hiking solo on Mount Beerwah in scorching 34-degree heat when he vanished.
The Last Known Sighting: A Chilling Photo
The last time anyone heard from the hiker was when he sent a photo from his mobile phone around 1 pm on Sunday. The image, released by police, is the only clue investigators have to work with. Despite attempts to contact him, his phone has remained silent.
The Search Effort: A Race Against Time
Emergency crews have been combing through the bushland on foot and by air, using a police helicopter and SES drones to scour the area. The Queensland Remote Area Tracking team, comprising ex-military members, has also joined the search. However, their expertise has been hampered by the grueling heat and humidity.
“It’s Pretty Tough Going In There”
Steve Ross, a member of the Queensland Remote Area Tracking team, described the conditions as “pretty tough going” and warned that the hiker’s chances of survival were dwindling. “If he’s stuck up on the rock with no water, it’s not going to be pleasant,” Ross said. “We’re probably going through three liters a day … I believe he only had a liter on him. I would say his liter is well and truly gone now.”
A Glimmer of Hope: Recent Rainfall
While the situation looks bleak, Ross holds onto hope that the hiker may have found access to water, thanks to recent rainfall. “There is water on the rock, there’s water seeping out,” he said. “We just have to hope that he’s found a bit of cover somewhere, even if he’s injured, he’s managed to get himself somewhere.”
Challenging Terrain Hampers Search Efforts
Acting Inspector Matt Robertson expressed concern about the warm weather and risks of dehydration. “Obviously, it is important that we get as much information as we can as quick as we can so we can try and locate him,” he said. The search has been made more difficult by the treacherous terrain, featuring inaccessible areas of thick bushland and steep cliffs.
Police Appeal for Information
Police have urged fellow hikers who may have seen the missing man to come forward with any information. “We’re maintaining our hope that this will be a positive outcome,” Inspector Robertson said. The walking track on Mount Beerwah, which had been closed due to wet weather on December 2, will remain closed until the search operation is complete.