Home

Freezing overnight conditions dampen search for Melbourne man missing in Victoria’s high country

Owen LeonardNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

Hope for a grandfather who went missing in Victoria’s high country is faltering as the search enters a sixth day following freezing overnight conditions.

As many as 120 police, SES and other volunteers have been searching for lost bushwalker Christos Pittas since Friday, who went missing near Dinner Plain after venturing into the wilderness to find emus.

The 70-year-old Greensborough man was last seen wearing a long-sleeve jumper and pants but there are fears he was not appropriately dressed for the perilous weather conditions that set in overnight.

The region was struck by snow and considerable wind, dragging the ‘feels like’ gauge down to as low as -12°C around midnight.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Police will resume the search today despite the bleak weather forecast.

Christos vanished while searching for emus in Dinner Plains on Friday.
Camera IconChristos vanished while searching for emus in Dinner Plains on Friday. Credit: Supplied

Daughter Elia Bird recently voiced concern in a Facebook post, fearing time was running out for her missing father.

“We assume he got lost off of one of the many hiking trails and perhaps injured himself,” Ms Bird wrote.

“(He’s) poorly dressed in the wild terrain.

“Time is against us with the snow coming in on Monday.”

Senior Constable Joel Magno-Thornton on Tuesday warned police were mindful of putting searchers in harm’s way with terrain becoming wet and damp amid inclement weather.

A team of 120 police, SES and other volunteers are searching for the missing grandfather. Brianna Travers
Camera IconA team of 120 police, SES and other volunteers are searching for the missing grandfather. Brianna Travers Credit: Supplied

“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 affects everybody, the terrain out there is wet and damp.

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

“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.”

The search continues.

Originally published as Freezing overnight conditions dampen search for Melbourne man missing in Victoria’s high country

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails