Missing man ‘wandered off’ on bushwalking tour

While on holiday with his wife in 2010, Joao De Ornelas went for a walk after a popular hiking event in Tasmania.

That was the last time the 76-year-old father of three from Sydney was seen alive.

He had previously been cleared to travel by his doctor, despite his family’s concerns that he was showing signs of early dementia.

A coroner’s report released Thursday concluded it was impossible to determine how or exactly when he died.

Coroner Madeleine Wilson said Mr De Ornelas may have wandered off a particular walking path and lost his bearings in the dense forest.

Mr De Ornelas, who emigrated from Portugal in 1973, traveled regularly with his wife, enjoying the outdoors and often walking 5 miles during the day.

The couple arrived in Tasmania in February 2010 on a trip organized by the local Portuguese community.

On March 3, he and a tour group traveled to Geeveston, south of Hobart, to the Tahune Airwalk, a 600-metre high bush-lined walkway.

Mr De Ornelas sat next to another tour group member before saying he would return after completing his aerial walk.

After abandoning the aerial walk, he was seen walking determinedly down a narrow, gravel road around 14:00-14:30.

He was reported missing shortly after 2.30pm, sparking a search that lasted several days involving ground crews, helicopters, divers and dogs.

There is no evidence of any malice in her disappearance, with Ms Wilson found to have died between 3 and 8 March.

“Unfortunately, without his body or direct evidence of his death, it is not possible to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his death,” Ms Wilson said.

He could not say whether Mr. De Ornelas had suffered a medical crisis, stating that he likely died from hypothermia, exhaustion and dehydration.

He added that the importance of staying on defined roads and trails in areas surrounded by bushland was emphasized.