Major clue found in desperate search for missing man who vanished without a trace from Ficks Crossing
The discovery of a single shoe belonging to a man missing for almost a week has sparked renewed hope for rescue teams.
Jack McLennan, 27, was last seen at Ficks Crossing, 175 kilometers northwest of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, on October 4.
He was spending time with a friend but is believed to have left on foot between 8 and 10pm that evening.
After he was reported missing, a manhunt was launched and is now in its sixth day.
Inspector Scott Stahlhut confirmed on Thursday that he had found a shoe believed to have been worn by Mr McLennan at the time of his disappearance.
It comes as police released new CCTV footage hours before he was reported missing.
In the footage, Mr McLennan was seen in a bottle shop Lamb Street in Murgon at approximately 1.30pm on October 4.
He then got into a car with a friend with whom he spent the next few hours at Ficks Crossing before disappearing.
New CCTV footage shows 27-year-old Jack McLennan hours before he disappeared at Ficks Crossing, 175km northwest of the Sunshine Coast, on October 4.
Rescue teams found McLennan’s shoe on Wednesday, reinvigorating their efforts
Inspt Stahlhut said the ‘promising’ discoveries indicated McLennan had not strayed far, but reiterated that police still have serious ‘concerns for his welfare’.
“This kind of behavior is very uncharacteristic,” he said.
The rescue operation had been delayed by heavy rainfall which “affected our ability to move freely”, Inspt Stahlhut added.
“We had quite a bit of rain here last night and there are some waterway closures, so that is having some impact on our searches.”
Rescue efforts include specialist divers searching in and around Ficks Crossing, ground search teams and an air operation.
Police confirmed the search will continue until Friday.
Mr McLennan is approximately 185cm tall, has light brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.
Rescue teams’ efforts were previously hampered by significant rainfall, restricting their movement
Mr McLennan is 185cm tall, has light brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.
Billboards along the Bunya Highway urge motorists to report any sightings of him in the area.
Locals have also been advised to check buildings and sheds on their properties in case Mr McLennan manages to gain access.
Anyone with information on Mr McLennan’s whereabouts is asked to come forward.
The police would also like to get in touch with people who may have been in or nearby Ficks Crossing between 3 p.m. October 4 and 12 p.m. October 5.