A Tasmanian coroner has found a Sydney tourist who disappeared near the Tahune Airwalk more than 16 years ago is dead, despite his body never being found.
Joao De Ornelas, 76, was holidaying with a Portuguese community tour group near Geeveston, south of Hobart, when he walked off on March 3, 2010 and was never seen again.
The retired Sydney Water Board worker was showing early signs of dementia at the time, the coroner said.
He was last seen walking alone down a gravel road around 2:30pm and was reported missing minutes later.
What followed was one of the state’s biggest searches.
Over five days, more than 200 people from Tasmania Police, Victoria Police, Forestry Tasmania, the SES and volunteer groups searched a 24-kilometre radius around the airwalk.
Police divers searched the Huon River, dog teams were flown in from Melbourne and helicopters covered nearby rivers. No trace of him was found.
In her findings, Coroner Madeleine Wilson said she was satisfied De Ornelas had died.
“On the balance of probabilities, I find that Mr De Ornelas died between 3 March 2010 and 8 March 2010,” she said.
A survivability expert told police De Ornelas’s chances of survival dropped sharply over the days he was missing, from 50% to no chance by March 8.
The expert said he likely died from hypothermia, exhaustion and dehydration, made worse by his poor eyesight, an injured arm and a lack of warm clothing.
Wilson said she could not be certain of the cause.
“The cause of Mr De Ornelas’s death is unable to be ascertained,” she said.
She ruled out suicide and foul play, finding he most likely became disoriented in thick bushland.
“The case highlights the importance of staying on the defined pathways and tracks in areas surrounded by dense bushland,” Wilson said.
“I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr De Ornelas.”
