Source : Perth Now news
Police are unclear on all the circumstances that led to a man in his 30s going missing in the bushland outside Launceston.
Corey Chugg, 32, went missing on Sunday when he reportedly split up with a friend as they went collecting firewood.
On Wednesday, a police helicopter and drone were hovering above the ground search teams, scouring an area about 20km outside Launceston, where Mr Chugg’s phone data was recorded.
Mr Chugg was only wearing shorts and a shirt and had no food, Inspector Aleena Crack said.
“The terrain is fairly unforgiving up there in some parts, and in others it’s open tracks and bushland,” she said.
“At the time he’s gone missing, he’s just been in his clothing, alone.
“Just shorts and a top, without any rescue equipment or anything like that. He didn’t have any food with him.”
Inspector Crack said Mr Chugg was in the bush with a friend, the pair split up at some point, and Mr Chugg was reported missing 24 hours later.
The delay in reporting was not something police were “concerned about right now”.
“We’re treating this as a missing person who has become lost in the bush,” she said.
“Any other inquiries may come up later, but right now we want to find him in the bush.”
The search is centred between Nunamara and Mount Barrow, northeast of Launceston.
The search area had been narrowed using pings from Mr Chugg’s mobile phone, Inspector Crack said.
