Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Search resumes for man missing in Daintree
Police will resume searching for a missing Victorian man who walked away from his bogged ute in North Queensland’s Daintree rainforest four days ago.
December 25, 2019
The search for a barefoot Victorian man who went missing after bogging his ute in North Queensland’s crocodile-infested Daintree rainforest is set to resume, with fears for his safety.
Milan Lemic, 25, was last seen near the Upper Daintree Village about 4.30pm on Sunday after driving his car into Bairds Crossing, police say.
A witness offered to get a tractor to help free the vehicle.
But when he returned 20 minutes later Mr Lemic was gone, leading to fears he may have been taken by a crocodile.
However, that was all but ruled out following a search of the Daintree River, which found the reptiles in the area were too small to have taken the missing man.
Rescuers are hopeful Mr Lemic, who police described as a loner unlikely to seek help, will be found alive.
Search coordinator Senior Sergeant Ed Lukin says it is also possible Mr Lemic could be avoiding rescuers.
The rough, mountainous terrain coupled with the risk of crocodile attack along the riverbank has hampered the four-day air, land and river search.
Mr Lemic was last seen wearing a brightly-coloured singlet, black gym shirt with white writing on it, black tracksuit pants, no shoes and no hat.
He is 191cm tall with black hair.