Thread: Black Saturday survivor missing

Originally Posted by Teks

This afternoon I received an urgent call for help from a Diamond Creek firie who asked me if I could assist in helping find a resident who is missing.

The resident, a Victorian man named Hendrik Vreulink aged 60, was last seen at a relative's house in Diamond Creek in Melbourne's outer northeast about 8:00pm (AEST) last Wednesday (August 12).

"Hendrik is a survivor of the Black Saturday bushfires and narrowly made it out of his Strathewen home, which was lost in the fires," a police spokeswoman said.

He is caucasian, 183 centimetres tall, has a medium build and straight blonde short hair. Mr Vreulink has blue eyes, a fair complexion and a beard and moustache. It is believed he was last seen wearing a light blue windcheater and dark pants.

Mr Vreulink's car - a 2005 Toyota Hilux dual cab utility, registration TVS 872 - is also missing. As Mr Vreulink is a keen bush walker it is now thought that he may have parked his car on a 4WD/dirt track, gone for a walk and has lost his bearings or had a fall and is unable to seek help. The Diamond Creek community along with police and the local firies are appealing to anyone to keep a lookout when travelling on seldom used roads in the event that they may see him or his car.

Police have urged anyone with information on Mr Vreulink's whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Diamond Creek CFA.

I hope they find him soon as it's really cold overnight of late around the district.

Further to the above I heard an interveiw and it is possible he could be any where in the state.
Hendrik enjoyed the Grampians and also Gipsland district.

Cheers.

Ps. The Toyota duel cab has an alloy tray with square ladder racks.

Heard about that on the radio this morning. Made me think of my B-I-L who went to the area during the fires as a first-aider from the Red Cross. He is not coping at all well. He is a really tough guy, a no-nonsense get in there and do it type of guy. But you can only see so much devastation and find so many families dead in their cars before it takes a toll. He has dealt with many dead people at car crashes as a SES volunteer but this was so overwhelming.

He still breaks down when he drives through the area. His marriage is not surviving (although there would be other factors there as well). And he is not the type of person who will go to a therapist. I cannot imagine how the people who saw all that and lost all of their material belongings as well are feeling.

Hopefully the gentleman who is missing has not had a complete breakdown on one of his walks.

It is with sadness that I add to this thread that Hendrik Vreulink's body was found this morning at Tallarook.

As the fires continue to take their toll my condolence go to his family and freinds.

R.I.P