Rescue teams are battling snow, rain and near gale-force winds as they continue to search for a missing bushwalker in Tasmania’s Mt Field National Park.
30-year-old Daryl Fong hasn’t been heard from since early Sunday morning, when he texted a friend around 3am saying he’d been delayed and planned to shelter overnight.
The Tasmanian man had set out on what was supposed to be a day hike in the park over the weekend.
His friend contacted police on Monday afternoon after being unable to reach him.
Inspector Luke Horne said crews from Tasmania Police, SES and Ambulance Tasmania, with support from a rescue helicopter, are continuing to search the Tarn Shelf area today “for any sign” of Fong.
Fong’s white Subaru was found in the Lake Dobson car park, where police believe he left it before starting his walk.
Search crews have been combing the area since Monday night but have faced relentless conditions.
“Search teams continue to be faced with difficult conditions, including snow and rain, poor visibility and near gale-force winds,” Horne said.
Earlier reports indicated searchers were encountering knee to waist-high snow in some areas of the Tarn Shelf.
Police have released a photograph of Fong and believe he may be wearing similar clothing to what’s shown in the image.
Inspector Horne said about 100 people had been in Mt Field National Park since Saturday morning, when Fong began his walk.
“I ask those people to please consider whether they saw Daryl’s vehicle in the carpark or any sign of him and if they have any witness information that may assist the search to come forward,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Bridgewater Police on (03) 6173 2010 or Tasmania Police on 131 444.
