Australia AUS - Prabhdeep Srawn, 25, Mt Kosciuszko NP NSW, 13 May 2013, Media, Maps & Timeline *NO DISCUSSION*

FigTree

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Sorry :) This is a No Discussion Thread -
Please go to the Prabhdeep Srawn Missing Persons Discussion Thread to discuss this case.

This thread is for Main Stream Media Articles, Links, Timelines & Verified Information Related to the disappearance of Prabhdeep Srawn

Brief Summary Details
Prabhdeep Srawn is originally from Brampton, Ontario - CANADA
He was studying at Bond University Queensland - AUSTRALIA
He was due to graduate with a Law Degree 2013
He had lived in Australia for 2 Years
He was also a Canadian Military Reservist (6 years) with extensive Survival Training


Overview of case:
Missing from: Kosciuszko National Park NSW Australia
Date Missing: Monday 13th May 2013
Last Known Whereabouts: Charlotte Pass Car Park - then walking the MAIN RANGE WALKING TRACK - which leads to Mount Kosciuszko.
Missing Persons Report made: Monday 20th May 2013 - Prabhdeep was missing for a week before his hire car was discovered in the Charlotte Pass Village car Park.

Physical Description:
Age: 25 years old
Hair: short brown/black hair
Eyes: brown eyes
Complexion: Tanned - Indian Heritage
Height: 6 foot 1 inch / 183cm
Build: Med - Fit


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Source:The Star - Prabhdeep Srawn



Prabhdeep was wearing:
  • A white t-shirt

  • Blue jeans.

  • A red and black “Frogg Toggs” ski jacket - The body of the jacket is described as being red with a black hood and shoulder section.

  • HOODED WINTER FLEECE JACKET - Size: L - Colour: Grey - Brand: STILLWATER SUPPLY COMPANY - Design: Double layered Fleece
    OUTER LAYER: pattern Grey box checkered - black buttons up - outer pockets either side of chest
    INNER JACKET LAYER: soft grey fleece with zipper
    LINING: Dark Grey thick wool-like fleece.


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A jacket identical to one Prabh was wearing.


If you have information which can help this investigation...
Reports can be made to:
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Australia Wide

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I will be placing the chronological media links, pics and timeline into the thread over the next day or so - could you please leave posting in the thread until I get them all in and up to date.

Cheers and Thanks :)
FigTree
 
Main Stream Media Timeline


Monday 20th May 2013

Canberra Times. Read More...
Prabhdeep Srawn, 23, the Canadian bushwalker missing in the Kosciuskzo National Park
Police and volunteers have hit the Snowy Mountains in skis and on snow mobiles as the search for missing Canadian bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn continues in the Kosciuszko National Park.
Mr Srawn, a Bond University law student, has not been seen since he parked his car in the Charlotte Pass village on Monday, May 13. The rental car was due to be returned on May 15.
It is believed the 25-year-old intended to walk to Mount Kosciuszko and then to another unknown mountain nearby.
Officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service are assisting police with the search, which also involves officers from the Alpine Operations Unit, Monaro Local Area Command and the missing persons unit.
Mr Srawn’s parents and siblings were travelling to Jindabyne after learning of his disappearance on Friday.




Tuesday 21st May 2013

CBC NEWS Toronto. Read more...
Brampton man reported missing in Australia
Family members joined a frantic search Tuesday for a Canadian man with survival training missing for more than a week in Australia's Snowy Mountains region.
Srawn is also considered an avid bushwalker, a term used to describe a wilderness hiker in Australia and has also hiked in mountainous regions of New Zealand.


National Post Canada. Read More...
OTTAWA — Family members have joined a frantic search for a Canadian man
Members of Srawn’s family arrived in Australia today to aid in the search being conducted by Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service officers, police and State Emergency Service volunteers.
Family members and friends have also posted messages on social media websites hoping to glean any information they can about Srawn’s whereabouts.


CTV News. Read More...
OTTAWA -- Family members joined a frantic search Tuesday for a Canadian man
The search for Srawn only kicked into high gear on Saturday, said Sahota, who expressed hope that search and rescue teams in Australia wouldn't easily give up because of harsh weather.
The hiking route Srawn is believed to have taken is considered an easy walk in good weather.
But it can quickly become very treacherous in bad weather, which was the case Monday, when snow prevented rescuers from conducting a ground search.


The Australian. Read More...
EMERGENCY crews continue to search for a Canadian man who has been missing for more than a week in atrocious conditions in the NSW snow country.
A search and rescue team of more than 20 will be expanded today, and is being assisted by a police helicopter, Inspector Rooney said.
"We only have fairly scant details from a flatmate in Queensland and another friend," he said.
"We know that he was intending to drive to Melbourne to be in Melbourne last Wednesday and once he got to the mountains he was intending to walk to Mount Kosciuszko and that's all the information we have at this stage."



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Picture of Missing Man: Prabhdeep Srawn

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Main Stream Media Timeline


Wednesday 22nd May 2013

The Observer Canada. Read More...
Ontario man lost in Australian mountains
The third day of searching for a Brampton, Ont., man who went missing while hiking in Australia wrapped up because of poor lighting, local media reported.
On Wednesday, a thermal camera was used to try to locate Srawn after there were reports of voices or a dog barking in an area of the park.


CP24 Canada. Read More...
Voices Heard
As the frantic search for a missing Canadian bushwalker continues in Australia's Snowy Mountains region, there are reports of "voices" being heard in the area.
The Canberra Times reports that an air search for Prabhdeep Srawn is focusing on a specific location within the Kosciuszko National Park, about 350 kilometres southwest of Sydney.


Toronto Sun. Read More...
Ontario man lost in Australian mountains
"When he left last week it was clear and there was no snow on the paths,'' Peter Hosking of the Kosciuszko Huts Association told the Canberra Times. "The snow came in during the late afternoon, and he might have lost the path and not been able to find it pretty quickly."



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Main Stream Media Reports


Thursday 23rd May 2013

CBC Hamilton Canada. Read More...
Prayer vigil being held for Hamilton man missing in Australia
Prayer vigil being held for Hamilton man missing in Australia
Family members and friends are urging members of the public to come out to a prayer vigil for a missing Hamilton man.
Srawn's family is trying to push the Australian government into increasing rescue efforts but so far, they have not been successful. Concerned citizens are chiming in, using Twitter to increase awareness of the search for Srawn.
… it's been ten days now."


Gold Coast News Australia. Read More...
Cries trigger hope in search for hiker
Westpac chopper CEO Stephen Leahy said national park officers believed they heard voices from the area at Opera House Hut, but despite extensive searches, no one had been found by sunset.
"There are structures -- buildings, aqueducts, a bridge -- so it would make sense if he's there. We have spent time and energy there."
A doctor and paramedic on board the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter was sent to Perisher from 12pm yesterday, ready to treat Mr Srawn via wench or stretcher if he was found. Both choppers will resume the search today.
At least one other friend was supposed to attend the climb with Mr Srawn but backed out at the last minute, Mr Sahota said.


National Post Canada. Read More...
Calls grow for army to help search for Canadian Forces reservist lost in Australian mountains after ‘voices’ heard
The family and friends of a Canadian missing in Australia’s Snowy Mountains region for more than a week are calling for additional manpower to search for the hiker.
Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell said in a message ...she had sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seeking additional support.
“Help find Prabh Srawn… he is a Bramptonian,” Fennell wrote.




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Westpac rescue Helicopter uses Thermal Imaging in the search.

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Main Stream Media Reports

Friday 24th May 2013

Newcastle Herald Australia. Read More...
Canadian politicians call for additional forces in search for bushwalker
Mr Rae wrote to the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs John Baird on Thursday, urging his support in tasking Australian soldiers to the ongoing search efforts.
“I encourage Consular Services to continue working with the Australian officials to utilise all possible resources to help in the search for Prabhdeep, including working with emergency services and the Australian military,” he said.


Border Mail. Read More...
Time running out in search for Prabh
Straying from the track or getting lost in the knee-high snow which fell on the day he set out would see Mr Srawn quickly end up in the thick contours between the nearby Mt Sentinel and Lady Northcote’s Canyon.
The area around the nearby Geehi River is where missing walkers have been found in the past.
One experienced bushwalker told Fairfax Media parts of the area are so rugged, a search party could pass 5 metres from another person without knowing they were there.


WordPress - Video
A Sisters Plea - Video

Newcastle Herald. Read More...
Canadian politicians call for additional forces in search for bushwalker
Friends and family of the 25-year-old have been undertaking a social media campaign to push for forces to get involved in the search, targeting Australian politicians through Facebook and Twitter.


MPP Jagmeet SIngh's statement on Prabhdeep Srawn - YouTube

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Main Stream Media Reports


Saturday 25th May 2013

Southern Highland News Australia. Read More...
$15,000 reward to find hiker
Relatives of the bushwalker missing in Kosciuszko National Park have offered a $15,000 reward for any hiker who finds him alive.
But NSW Police said specially trained and equipped personnel were involved in the hunt for Mr Srawn and that they were not seeking assistance from members of the public.
They were still treating the operation as a search and rescue and were to resume the hunt for Mr Srawn at 7.30am on Sunday.
Mr Srawn's cousin Ruby on Friday posted a video online pleading for more assistance in the search for him.
 
Main Stream Mdia Reports


Monday 27th May 2013

Police Report.
Expired: This report is no longer viewable online.

A search for a bushwalker, missing in the Kosciuszko National Park, will go into its eighth day when it resumes tomorrow (Tuesday 28 May 2013).
On Monday 13 May 2013, 25-year-old Prabhdeep Srawn drove to Charlotte Pass Village in the Kosciuszko National Park where he intended to go for a bushwalk.
Mr Srawn has not been seen or heard from since and his rental car was due to be returned two days later (Wednesday 15 May 2013).
On Monday 20 May 2013, it was discovered Prabhdeep was missing and a large-scale search operation was conducted in the areas surrounding Mount Kosciuszko.

Today (Monday 27 May 2013), a total of 28 personnel from NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police, National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), State Emergency Service (SES) and NSW Ambulance Service continued their search for Mr Srawn.
The search also involved Polair and the Life Saver 3 helicopter, which flew alpine trained officers into the more isolated and rugged areas of terrain.
Extensive searches focussed on the ridge lines east and west of Lady Northcote Canyon as well as the lower levels of Mt Townsend, Muellers Pass, Muellers Peak, Abbott Ridge and Abbott Peak.
At 6:15pm, the search was suspended for the day after emergency services were unable to locate any sign of Mr Srawn.
The search will resume at full strength at 7:30am tomorrow with resources expected to revisit the Lady Northcote Canyon, Muellers Pass and the Cootapatamba Lake.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about Mr Srawn’s movements or whereabouts to come forward. He is described as being of Indian appearance with a tanned complexion, medium build and short dark hair.
He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans. Police also believe he may be wearing a red and black “Frogg Toggs” ski jacket. The body of the jacket is described as being red with a black hood and shoulder section.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Main Stream Media


Tuesday 28th May 2013

Global Press Canada. Read More...
- Canada is asking Australian police not to scale back the search for a Canadian hiker missing for more than two weeks in the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales.
Australian authorities announced Tuesday that they would be scaling back the search even as Srawn's family and friends pleaded for an expanded search for the 25-year-old hiker from Brampton, Ont.
Diane Ablonczy, minister of state for consular affairs, said Tuesday that she has spoken with Australia's high commissioner to Canada and requested that the search for Prabhdeep Srawn not be reduced at this time.
A spokesman for Ablonczy said the federal government is still waiting for a response from Australian officials.


CTV News Canada - with Video
The family of a Canadian hiker who is missing in Australia is trying to assemble a volunteer search party as authorities scale back their search efforts.
In a statement released Tuesday, New South Wales Police said they were scaling down the operation after consulting medical experts and weather conditions in the area.
The family is “scrambling to try to figure out a plan B,” Ruby Singh-Sahota, the missing man’s cousin, told CTV’s Canada AM on Tuesday.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to get some people out there, our own private teams if we can … We’re just scrambling trying to figure out how we can keep this search going.”
Singh-Sahota blames a lack of coordination between police and volunteer search teams.
Police are expected to officially call off the search on Friday.



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Police stand outside the Kosciuszko National Park headquaters in Jindybyne / Pic: Stephen Cooper
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Main Stream Media


Wednesday 29th May 2013

The Daily Telegraph Australia. Read More...
Missing bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn's family - find him and we'll pay
REFUSING to give up hope, the determined family of missing bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn have posted a $20,000 reward for his rescue despite police yesterday making the heart-wrenching decision to call off the search tomorrow.
His sister Mandeep Srawn - who with her cousin Raj and her parents Major and Devinder arrived in Australia last week - said yesterday a hiker has told police he saw fresh footprints in the snow ahead of him on the track the following day.
It follows further revelations police failed to find Mr Srawn's laptop under the seat of his rented van until the family insisted it be re-searched.



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Raj Srawn (cousin) and Mandeep Srawn (sister) of missing bush walker Prabhdeep Srawn in Jindybyne / Pic: Stephen Cooper

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Main Stream Media


Saturday 1st June 2013

The Sun Herald Australia. Read More...
Missing Canadian tourist Prabhdeep Srawn's family still hopeful despite search being called off
FOR five days Prabhdeep Srawn's rented "Juicy" van sat as a silent, ominous warning that the 25-year-old Canadian's life was in danger.

Under one of the seats inside the van, popular with backpackers, was a laptop containing Google Maps and Wikipedia searches - vital clues indicating his planned route that could have gone a long way to narrowing his position had they been discovered earlier.
There were also more than 30 pages of military lecture notes on "winter warfare" and alpine survival techniques.
Police had searched the van but it wasn't until Mr Srawn's family insisted they look again that officers found his laptop.

By that stage Mr Srawn had been missing for 10 days.



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Main Stream Media Reports


Saturday 1st June 2013 cont...

CBC Canada. Read More...
Search for Canadian man missing in Australia called off, his family says
Local authorities have called off their search for a Canadian hiker missing in Australia's Snowy Mountains, the man's family says.
Police began a search for him May 20, but the operation was scaled back earlier this week as officials had determined it was unlikely they'd find him alive.
New South Wales Police said in an email Thursday that bad weather had hampered Thursday's search.



Tuesday 4th June 2013

CBC Hamilton Canada. Read More...
Private searchers zero in on Canadian hiker missing in Australia
Family offers $50K reward to find ex-military reservist Prabhdeep Srawn of Hamilton

Canadian family members of 25-year-old Hamilton native Prabhdeep Srawn say private searchers in Australia are zeroing in on the location of the missing hiker.
Srawn's cousin, Tej Sahota, tweeted late Monday that "using hundreds of variables in military-grade software programs," private search teams have decided he is likely near the Hannel's Pass area.
"Family and friends are camped out in an area within one kilometre of [that] given area and will attempt today to narrow [the] area down and locate," Sahota said. "The terrain is accessible but definitely 'off-trail' so to speak."
Srawn's family has increased the reward for finding him alive from $15,000 to $50,000. The family says the official search for him has ended, while Australian police insist it has been "scaled down."



Saturday 8th June 2013

Published by Ruby Singh-Sahota. Read Letter...
Email conversation with Diane Ablonczy’s office
We the family of Prabhdeep will not take this sitting down. We are not willing to so easily give up on this precious life. A person that went to great lenghts to train for 6 years as a Reservist in the Canadian Armed forces so that he could be of service to his country and countrymen in a time of need. Well now it is your turn and it is his time of need. What have you chosen to do. Take the word of the NSW over that of your own citizens? We are ashamed of this administration's choice to merely push along paperwork, instead of easily taking some action that could have made a big difference. You had the choice and your choice was to do nothing.



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The family of missing man Prabh Srawn has increased their reward to $100,000.

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Main Stream Media Reports


Monday 10th June 2013

Canberra Time Australia. Read More...
Drone joins search amid $100K reward for missing hiker
An unmanned drone has joined the search for bushwalker Prabh Srawn, almost one month after the Canadian man disappeared in the Kosciuszko National Park.
Mr Tran said the mapping drone covered a square kilometre at a time, using an on-board camera to take about 200 photos which would later be examined by volunteers.
A fellow West Australian company, Cyber Technology, was also aiding the search efforts.



Tuesday 11th June 2013

ABC News Australia. Read More...
Family offers $100k reward to find missing Snowy Mountains bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn
The family of a man who has been missing in the NSW Snowy Mountains for almost a month has doubled the reward for anyone who finds him, after searchers decided to stop using drone aircraft to look for him.
A Perth-based company lent a radio-controlled aircraft equipped with cameras over the weekend to those still looking for the Canadian hiker.
However, heavy winds at the summit of Mount Kosciuszko have made the drones difficult to control while thick cloud means it has been impossible to take pictures of the terrain.
However, Mr Sahota says only experienced hikers should take-up the reward offer.
"We've always maintained nobody should put Prabh ahead of their personal safety," he said.


ABC News Australia. Read More...
New clue in search for missing Snowy Mountains bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn
Now the fiance of Mr Srawn's sister, Karndeep Sandhu, says there is new information about where his phone last sent a signal.
He says Mr Srawn's mobile-service provider has found the last signal was sent from the west face of Mount Townsend.
The location has a 2 kilometre radius of accuracy.



Wednesday 12th June 2013

Published by Ruby Singh-Sahota
Request to the Australian High Commission. Read More...
We respectfully request that the Australian High Commission immediately intervene in this matter, assisting the family and friends of Prabh Srawn in a time of great need.


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Ruby Singh-Sahota, relative of the missing Canadian, says her family is working to try and find him
after Australia called off the search


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Main Stream Media Reports


Friday 14th June 2013


The Star - Canadian Press. Read More...
Prabhdeep Srawn: Canadian soldiers to join search for Brampton man missing in Australia
The family of a Brampton man missing in Australia says 10 members of the Canadian Armed Forces are joining the search for him on their own time.
Tej Sahota, whose wife is Srawn’s cousin, tweeted early Thursday that some of the Canadian soldiers heading for Australia have extensive experience in the mountains of Afghanistan.
He says the soldiers are going on their own free will and not in any official capacity.

ABC News Australia. Read More...
Canadian army members to join search for missing bushwalker Prahdeep Srawn
Now, 12 off-duty Canadian army personnel will join the search on Sunday. They will be in Australia for about two weeks.
Mr Srawn's sister, Mandeep Srawn, says the men will be equipped with snow and climbing gear and plan to camp in the mountains during the search.
"I think they are expecting it to be colder than it is though. It's not as cold as it gets in Canada," she said.

Canberra Times Australia. Read More...
Canadian soldiers join search for Prabh
Up to 12 Canadian soldiers will join the search near Mt Kosciuszko for a Canadian hiker who has not been seen for more than a month.
"They're not coming for the reward," she said. "They're coming because they can't leave one of their own out there."
Ms Srawn also said a group of professionals were preparing to camp overnight in the mountains, before descending into Northcott Canyon with ropes and harnesses – an area she said the police did not comprehensively search.
By the weekend, the Srawn family expects to have up to 40 people


Sunday 23rd June 2013

Courier Mail
Canadian soldiers have been flown in to search for the Canadian national, a drone has been used and Mr Srawn's family has posted a $100,000 reward to anyone who finds him alive or dead.


Sunday 16th June 2013

HELP Find Prabh Srawn Official Facebook Page

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Canadian Soldiers arrive to help in the search for Prabhdeep.

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Main Stream Media


Friday 28th June 2013

HELP Find Prabh Srawn Facebook Page
New detail: Prabhs Food Supply
In addition to being appropriately dressed Prabh had bought a fair amount of food for his hike. He had purchased a 2 liter jug of OJ, 12 eggs, salami, beef, nuts, granola bars, water and TONS of fruits. This is very different from what the police claimed which was only a couple of granola bars and water.

HELP Find Prabh Srawn Facebook Page. Read More...
K9 Search and rescue teams from New Zealand just arrived in Canberra

Australian Swiss Search Dog Association Facebook Page. Read More...
Search for Prabhdeep.
You can read about the time spent looking for Prabhdeep in the Snowy Mountains – the posts are well written and shed light on the experience of the search with Jochen (the search dog), with handlers Peter and Elke.




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K9's and their handlers from New Zealand arrived in Australia.

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Main Stream Media Reports


Saturday 20th July 2013

Toronto Sun Canada. Read more...
Search ends for Canadian missing in Australia mountains: reports
Australia's ABC News reported Saturday that the snowy season had begun in the area and the family and volunteers were stopping their search.
On Monday, a post on the Facebook page Help Find Prabh Srawn was still asking for experienced hikers and bushwalkers.
The family had also offered a $100,000 reward to anyone who found him.



Sunday 21st July 2013

The Spec Canada. Read Moe...
Search for missing Prabhdeep Srawn continues, family says
Srawn's family continued to search after Australian officials ceased search operations at the end of May and members of the Canadian Forces spent two weeks in June searching the mountain area.
Australia's ABC News reported Saturday that the snowy season had begun in the area and the family and volunteers were stopping their search. But contrary to the Australian media reports, the search has apparently not been called off by his family.




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STILL HOPING: Mandeep Srawn, sister of missing bushwalker Prabhdeep, says the family has launched its own search for her brother. Source: Supplied Courier Mail

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Main Stream Media Reports


Friday August 2nd 2013

CBC news Canada. Read More...
Family of missing Canadian hiker returns from Australia
The family of Prabhdeep Srawn, an Ontario man who went missing in Australia, has returned to Canada because of visa restrictions.
"The family is only back because of visa restrictions," tweeted Dr. Tej Sahota, who is married to Srawn's cousin. "They have not given up hope or the search."
"Many of the hikers and rescue workers, upwards of 30, have indicated that once the winter passes, they will help out and rejoin the search." The family has been holding out hope that he could be found alive because of special cold weather military training.

Sydney Morning Herald Australia. Read More...
Lost Canadian hiker's family stop search due to 'visa restrictions'
The family of a Canadian hiker who went missing in the Snowy Mountains in May have left Australia, citing visa restrictions, after spending more than two months searching without success.
“Many of the hikers and rescue workers, upwards of 30, have indicated that once the winter passes, they will help out and rejoin the search.”
Dr Sahota said the family were hopeful NSW Police might officially “re-engage” the search “once the weather allows”.
He also said there were no plans for a memorial service for the lost hiker, and said the nightly public prayers held for Mr Srawn over the past two and a half months would no longer be held, as the family wanted to pray at home.



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Family members of the missing Canadian bush walker Prabhdeep Srawn, from left, Mandeep, Devinder, Major and Rajveer await news in Jindabyne on Thursday. Photo: Melissa Adams - SMH

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Main Stream Media Reports


Saturday 31st August 2013

The Australian - News. Read more...
How does a bushwalker go missing, never to be found?
A Feature article in the Australian News which reference Prabhdeeps Story and his family search.

Extract from the Article:
Sometimes, though, families believe the police and searchers could do a lot more.

In June this year NSW police called off their search after weeks of scouring the freezing, bleak Snowy Mountains for 25-year-old Prabhdeep Srawn, who'd gone missing on May 13. Srawn, a Canadian who was studying at Bond University on the Gold Coast, left his rental car in Charlotte Pass Village and set off to hike to Mount Kosciuszko. Whether he made it or not we may never know. Srawn was only noticed missing a week later, when his car wasn't returned. On hearing the news from police his family immediately flew out from Canada.

Straight away the searchers faced two very real problems: they had no clear idea of which part of the range Srawn may be on; and it was likely he was already dead. A blizzard hit not long after Srawn set out, and night-time temperatures plunged. Vague clues in the first few days of the search gave some hope. A hiker said he saw footprints in the snow; a drink bottle was found; there were reports of a voice. Police searching Srawn's rental car initially missed finding his laptop, which upon later inspection was found to contain maps of the area. Srawn's family would never forgive the police for this mistake. After searching for a little over a week, police began to scale back the effort and delivered the news to Srawn's family that they believed he was dead. Superintendent Shane Box said, "We have conducted extensive searches over some of the hardest and most remote and unforgiving terrain, in freezing temperatures. Sadly, there has not been any sign of Prabhdeep."

Srawn's family refused to believe he was dead. His military survival training - he was a Canadian Army reservist - would keep him alive, they claimed. He would eat caterpillars, ants, anything it took. The word "impossible", they said, was not in his vocabulary. They lashed out at the decision by the NSW Police to call off the search and launched a social media campaign to get it resumed. Emails were sent to the Australian High Commission requesting intervention. More emails ricocheted around government departments, here and in Canada, going all the way to the office of the Canadian Prime Minister. Srawn's sister, Mandeep, and other family members wrote impassioned pleas to various authorities, going over the search in minute detail, accusing NSW Police of incompetence at best, heartless apathy at worst.

When the lobbying failed to rouse a second official search, the family took matters into their own hands. They assembled their own private search team and flew in volunteers from the Canadian army. Another week of searching failed to find any trace. Things were looking drastic, so the family tried a different tack. Prabhdeep would get a price on his head.

A reward was posted: $50,000 to anyone who found him, dead or alive - a figure that was doubled days later. Box feared it would lead untrained people to put themselves at risk, but he wasn't in a position to prevent it. "This is an emotional time for people," he told a news conference, with heavy understatement.

The deeply religious Srawn family and supporters from the Sikh community maintained that a miracle was not out of the question. Supporters and well-wishers instructed the family, via a Facebook page, not to give up searching, and that God would keep Prabhdeep safe. "We believe he's OK," his sister Mandeep told ABC news on June 18, more than a month after he was last seen.

The family perhaps drew hope from the survival story of Jamie Neale, the British backpacker who was lost in the Blue Mountains south of Katoomba for 12 days in the winter of 2009, before he stumbled upon a couple of bushwalkers on a fire trail. Neale did everything wrong before going on his hike, including leaving his phone behind and not telling anyone of his intentions, but he had enough bush-nous and plain good luck to get out of the situation alive. Post-rescue, Neale's relationship with searchers and his family also went off the track. He sold his story to 60 Minutes for a reported $200,000 and then squabbled with his father over the proceeds. Some people raised questions about the authenticity of his tale, and how much money he should donate towards those involved in the rescue attempt. The 12 days he spent lost almost became an afterthought: whilst Neale's survival was remarkable, the public relations fallout was a nightmare.

Srawn's family have their own PR problems, but that's of little of concern to them as they continue to battle the authorities and pray for a miracle. On July 29, two and a half months after he disappeared, they announced they were leaving and would return to search in November.



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Family spokesperson Tej Sahota, left, and the search efforts at Jindabyne. - Pic: SMH

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Main Stream Media Reports


Tuesday 24th September 2013

Canberra Times Australia. Read More...
Missing hiker Prabh Srawn's $100K reward withdrawn as search resumes
The family of missing bushwalker Prabh Srawn has withdrawn the reward offered for finding the Canadian student, but remain determined to continue searching.
His disappearance in May sparked months of extensive searches throughout the Kosciuszko National Park, attracting volunteers from across the world to help find the 25-year-old.
“We cannot thank enough all the brave men and woman that have helped in the search effort thus far,” it read.
“As we are approaching a melt down in the alpine region of Kosciuszko National Park, we would once again request that all those that are interested in volunteering their time to assist in the continued search efforts please inbox message us for further details.”



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Supplied: Westpac Rescue Helicopter
Rescuers searching for Canadian bushwalker Prabhdeep Srawn, missing in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains. Taken May 22, 2013.


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Main Stream Media Reports


Monday 7th October 2013

Help Find Prabh Facebook Page Official
New Search Poster - October 2013
Please help us spread the word again. We need assistance with posting this poster in and around the Kosciuszko National Park areas. All check points, restaurants, towns and villages. Thank you! You all have been a tremendous support.


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