The Melton State Emergency Service (SES) conducted a successful rescue operation last week, when an older resident was reported missing late at night.
On March 14 at around 8.30pm, the Melton SES unit received a page from Victoria Police concerning a missing person.
The man’s disappearance was reported by family, who said he had gone missing in the Melton West area.
Melton SES community engagement deputy controller Karl Sass said the unit deployed all available members and a helicopter for the rescue operation.
“It was quite dark, which made it challenging,” Mr Sass said.
“There’s a lot of things to factor in when looking for a person, because you’re also looking for evidence, not just the person.
“Maybe a shirt or jacket, really any evidence that will help track them down. It depends on where you’re searching, but it can be something very small that helps.”
Mr Sass said rescue operations can take many forms depending on the location and timing of the incident, but in this case, all deployed personnel were operating on foot.
The rescue team narrowed down the search area to the Arnolds Creek area.
“Conditions were quite cloudy and dark,” he said.
“We had to make sure our members were close enough together so there were no gaps and it was a really thorough search.”
Mr Sass said his unit had just phoned for additional assistance from the Sunbury and Wyndham units, when they located the man at around 11.30am.
The Melton volunteers then performed a carry out back to the road where the man was assessed by paramedics.
Mr Sass said he was proud of his unit’s work.
He said it was important that people remember that all missing persons cases first be reported to Victoria Police.
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