After an intense nine-day search, a missing camper, Troy Milne, was found alive, despite initially feeling like he was in a precarious situation. Milne disappeared on October 7 from Woodside Beach near Melbourne while going to get supplies, causing concern due to his diabetes condition. Surveillance footage showed him looking disoriented at a service station the next day.
Following a public appeal by the police on October 12 and an extensive search, Troy was located on October 16 near Kirby Cross Track in Gippsland, over 200km away from his initial campsite. He had set a fire near his stranded Jeep to signal for help, eventually attracting the attention of Forest Fire Management Victoria staff.
Acting Inspector Kris Hamilton mentioned that Troy had lit the fire hoping for rescue, as he had been stuck for days due to his vehicle being immobilized. Despite not having his insulin for an extended period, Troy was found to be in surprisingly good condition after being taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Inspector Wayne Rothwell described the rescue as a remarkable success, attributing Troy’s disorientation to being without medication for an extended period. The challenging search was made even more difficult due to the vast area Troy had traversed. The timely response of fire crews to the fire signal ultimately led to his rescue.
The incident has been hailed as a positive outcome, bringing relief to Troy’s family and highlighting the importance of timely rescue efforts in such situations.
