Major search finds tourist

Intense: Brig Dave Chalmers with members of 7 Bde on Moreton Island.

By Capt Mick Buchannan

SOLDIERS of 7 Bde have assisted the Department of Emergency Services in the search for a missing tourist on Moreton Island near Brisbane.

Ricardo Sirutis had been missing for eight days when the support from the Army was requested and hope was running out to find him alive.

Following an urgent request from the Queensland Police, members of 1 Fd Regt, 2 CER, 2/14 LHR, 25/49 RQR, 6 RAR and 7 CSR formed a company group to assist in the search. With an HQ element from 25/49 RQR, the task force deployed immediately to the Island and significantly expanded the search area for Mr Sirutis.

Working closely with the Queensland Police Service and State Emergency Service the task group was responsible for their own search area in close and rugged country on the island.

The assistance of the 7 Bde troops enabled a fresh group of State Emergency Service personnel to be allocated to a new search area the following morning, and Mr Sirutis was found by SES volunteers at 2.30pm on May 18, 10 days after he had been declared missing.

Mr Sirutis was in remarkable condition despite 10 days without food and five days without water since the last rainstorm. He was barely conscious, critically dehydrated and suffering form extensive cuts and abrasions.

7 Bde members assisted in the evacuation of Mr Sirutis, who was taken by helicopter to hospital in Brisbane and is expected to make a full recovery. Doctors said that he would not have survived another 24 hours in his condition if not rescued that day.

Apart from the pleasing result in locating Mr Sirutis alive, the very short notice deployment validated the brigade’s DACC processes and provided the opportunity for joint planning and coordination with the emergency services.

The soldiers returned to Enoggera the following morning, just in time to join several major unit exercises.