Found Deceased NY - Paul McKay, 31, Saranac Lake, 31 Dec 2013

[los2188]

Australian soldier missing in Saranac Lake area -

SARANAC LAKE — The search continued on Monday here for an Australian man last seen New Year's Eve.

http://www.pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x12774764/Australian-soldier-missing-in-Saranac-Lake-area

 

[ktgirl]

Oh no...anytime I heat about a young man heading towards or near a lake....I get really worried.

If somehow you're out there & reading this Paul, come home! There are people who care about you. There are others who are going through what you've gone through. Perhaps your story would help others.

 

[madamehdivision]

****, ****, ****!

This does not look good. At all. As soon as it was revealed he lives in Canberra and has PTSD, I immediately thought "military". Oh, Paul. Please come home! There are places here that can help you. St John of God (SJOG) at North Richmond specialises in treating military with PTSD. It's not worth your life, mate. I promise you!

Sorry Websleuthers for the rambling. I too have PTSD and stayed at SJOG for four weeks last June receiving treatment. He's a local, being Aussie, and combined with all the other details like the PTSD and the email to his Dad.......its just awful. Awful.

:anguish:

 

[marlywings]

You would have to wonder why he chose to travel all the way to Saranac Lake. I wonder if he'd been there previously & knew the area?? Maybe I've missed it but I don't see any mention of a phone in the reports. Did he have one with him when he set off walking??

Also wonder why he'd take a large backpack with him & stop off for breakfast along the way if he were on a suicide mission.

In the case of Canadian Prabhdeep Srawn who is missing in mountainous Aussie countryside, a team of Canadian Armed Forces took it upon themselves to head to Australia to help in the search for Prabhdeep. It would be a fantastic gesture if some of Paul's army mates were able to do the same to help in the search for him.

 

[MagnoliaMountain]

Leaving all his possessions to his dad, and giving him his information regarding his finances, leaves me with the fear of suicide.

I agree. When I first read "PTSD" one thought came to my mind and the facts I quoted above just make me think I might be right sadly.

 

[MsAnais]

****, ****, ****!

This does not look good. At all. As soon as it was revealed he lives in Canberra and has PTSD, I immediately thought "military". Oh, Paul. Please come home! There are places here that can help you. St John of God (SJOG) at North Richmond specialises in treating military with PTSD. It's not worth your life, mate. I promise you!

Sorry Websleuthers for the rambling. I too have PTSD and stayed at SJOG for four weeks last June receiving treatment. He's a local, being Aussie, and combined with all the other details like the PTSD and the email to his Dad.......its just awful. Awful.

:anguish:

Thanks for that info re PTSD treatment, Madame H - that's really helpful to know. Indeed, there are lots of fantastic places here in Australia where Paul could get help.

Slowly, slowly the stigma around being a male in the forces and having PTSD is shifting, thanks to those brave guys who have chosen to write honest books about their experience.....but there's still a long way to go IMO. Men who have been in the armed forces still tend to think it's a sign of weakness to have PTSD - and it really isn't at all. It's a natural psychological response to seeing some very unnatural things!!:facepalm:

Hopefully Paul just needs some time out - but I am worried for him. PTSD isn't something anyone can deal with on their own......lease:

 

[madamehdivision]

Thanks for that info re PTSD treatment, Madame H - that's really helpful to know. Indeed, there are lots of fantastic places here in Australia where Paul could get help.

Slowly, slowly the stigma around being a male in the forces and having PTSD is shifting, thanks to those brave guys who have chosen to write honest books about their experience.....but there's still a long way to go IMO. Men who have been in the armed forces still tend to think it's a sign of weakness to have PTSD - and it really isn't at all. It's a natural psychological response to seeing some very unnatural things!!:facepalm:

Hopefully Paul just needs some time out - but I am worried for him. PTSD isn't something anyone can deal with on their own......lease:

He'll certainly fit right in at SJOG. There's an entire ward of military personnel with PTSD. Most from Afghanistan and Iraq. Some even from Nam.

Paul, if you're reading this, just remember: PTSD is not what's wrong with me. Its what's happenedto me.

 

[MsAnais]

Okay, so Paul served in Afghanistan:

"A veteran of the Australian military, McKay had served in combat in Afghanistan and was still enlisted at the time he came to the U.S."

http://www.northcountrypublicradio....ice-seek-australian-missing-from-saranac-lake

And info in the same article really does suggest, sadly, that he planned to take his life:

"In the email, McKay told his father he was giving him all his possessions and shared some financial information that led police to believe he didn’t plan on going back...."

 

[MsAnais]

Thanks for starting this thread, los2188 :seeya: There's still nothing here in the Australian MSM - which seems very odd to me - so it's good to know about this case.

Sending much love to Paul.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Oh Paul...

I hope you read here... And know there are so many that care about you... And have experienced similar events...

There is help in so many places...

raying:

 

[Public_Hysteria]

Come home, Paul. You are missed by many. Whatever problems you are trying to work through, there IS help available. Just come back to your friends and family.

 

[enzeder]

Fact Box

Paul McKay's known travel timeline

Dec. 29

8:30 p.m. - arrives at Newark International Airport from Australia

Dec. 30

7 a.m. - leaves New York City by Greyhound bus

10 a.m. - arrives in Albany bus terminal

1:30 p.m. - leaves Albany bus terminal

6:05 p.m. - arrives in Saranac Lake

9:11 p.m. - checks into Best Western Mountain Lake Inn

10 p.m. - using computer in hotel lobby, sends email to father, leaving him all his possessions

Dec. 31

8 a.m. - eats breakfast at McKenzie's Grill

11:05 a.m. - seen walking east on Lake Flower Avenue near Turtle Pond

Noon - seen walking east on railroad tracks near Federal Correctional Institution in Ray Brook

Local authorities continue search for missing Australian man
http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...arch-for-missing-Australian-man.html?nav=5008

 

[enzeder]

Local authorities continue search for missing Australian man

Paul McKay posted photos on Facebook before disappearance

"We now have a handful of people that remember someone who fits his description walking on (state Route 86) near the last location he was seen," village Police Chief Bruce Nason said Tuesday. "The witnesses described what we believe to be him on the railroad tracks near the federal prison (in Ray Brook)."

Read more: http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...arch-for-missing-Australian-man.html?nav=5008

 

[enzeder]

Paul McKay, a member of the Australian Army​

http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...arch-for-missing-Australian-man.html?nav=5008

 

[MsAnais]

Local authorities continue search for missing Australian man
http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...arch-for-missing-Australian-man.html?nav=5008

Thanks enzeder :seeya: That article has lots more info about Paul than previous ones.

I feel so much for his parents, particularly as LE haven't sent out a search party yet - apparently due to not knowing what area he's in and the cold weather.......

Still praying for him and wishing him well lease:

 

[enzeder]

Thanks enzeder :seeya: That article has lots more info about Paul than previous ones.

I feel so much for his parents, particularly as LE haven't sent out a search party yet - apparently due to not knowing what area he's in and the cold weather.......

Still praying for him and wishing him well lease:

Yes Isisrising - a very informative article indeed!.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Great finds in time line and MSM, Enzeder! :thumb:

 

[meanmaryjean]

I'm certain several US (and possibly other nations) Olympic teams are in Lake Placid and surrounding towns training at the winter Olympic venues. Is it possible he wanted to meet one of these cold-weather athletes first? Because, why come to this remote part of the world?

 

[madamehdivision]

Despite the detailed reportage in US local news, media outlets here in Australia are yet to cover the story.

Outrageous. Paul served for our country on numerous occasions, with some valour, and I find the absence of coverage here appalling.

So, suitably miffed, I've just emailed the newsdesk at the Sydney Morning Herald (a major, major newspaper) suggesting they look into it.

Hopefully we'll have some media here on it soon enough.

 

[MsAnais]

Despite the detailed reportage in US local news, media outlets here in Australia are yet to cover the story.

Outrageous. Paul served for our country on numerous occasions, with some valour, and I find the absence of coverage here appalling.

So, suitably miffed, I've just emailed the newsdesk at the Sydney Morning Herald (a major, major newspaper) suggesting they look into it.

Hopefully we'll have some media here on it soon enough.

Good work, madame h! It IS outrageous!

I'd been wondering if it's all quiet here because the military doesn't want media attention given to the trauma that our forces suffer......bad PR. It's suspiciously quiet, which leads me to think they've told Australian MSM to leave it alone :twocents: