Australia Peter Willoughby, 76, Last Seen Sunday 5th October 2025 at Hollybank Forest Reserve, near Launceston, Tasmania

[Lucy.D]

Scottsdale (Tasmania) man Peter Willoughby has not been seen since he wandered off into bushland north-east of Launceston on Sunday afternoon.

Police say the 76-year-old was in the area trying to recover his bogged car when he became separated from his group.

Second time in a week police have gone to aid of missing 76yo

Mounted crews and drones are now involved in the search for Peter Willoughby, 76, who became disoriented and walked off into dense bushland near Launceston, police say.

www.abc.net.au

Searchers find no trace of elderly man lost in bushland

Crews have scoured swathes of bushland trying to find an elderly man who disappeared while trying to retrieve his bogged car.

au.news.yahoo.com

Search continues for 76yo man missing in Tasmanian bushland

Follow the latest news headlines from Australia's most trusted source. Read in-depth expert analysis and watch live coverage on ABC News.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Seni]

Fears grow for missing Tasmanian man lost in freezing bushland

Peter Willoughby disappeared near Hollybank on Sunday…

pulsetasmania.com.au

(...)


“It’s very possible he is experiencing hypothermia. The weather conditions here for the last couple of nights have been bitterly cold, especially because of the wind chill factor.”

When he went missing, Willoughby had only the clothes he was wearing and an axe. His phone was left at home.

(...)

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Second time in a week police have gone to aid of missing 76yo

Mounted crews and drones are now involved in the search for Peter Willoughby, 76, who became disoriented and walked off into dense bushland near Launceston, police say.

www.abc.net.au

Search for missing man Peter Willoughby, 76, continues in Tasmanian bushland​

In short:​

Scottsdale man Peter Willoughby has not been seen since he wandered off into bushland north-east of Launceston on Sunday afternoon.

Police say the 76-year-old was in the area trying to recover his car when he became separated from his group.

What's next?​

Mounted rescue crews, drones and all-terrain vehicles will be involved in the continued search.

Tasmania police say "trying conditions" were a concern as the search continued for missing Scottsdale man Peter Willoughby.

On Tuesday, dozens of emergency services personnel have been searching bushland near Hollybank forest reserve, north-east of Launceston, two days after the 76-year-old went to retrieve his car.

A "systematic search" of more than 110 hectares of bushland has so far been unsuccessful.

Police said Mr Willoughby is being treated for a medical condition, which can result in him sometimes becoming disoriented.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Fears grow for missing Tasmanian man lost in freezing bushland

Peter Willoughby disappeared near Hollybank on Sunday…

pulsetasmania.com.au

Fears grow for missing Tasmanian man Peter Willoughby lost in freezing bushland​

Police rescued him and his wife and returned them home with plans to retrieve the car later.

He went back to try and retrieve his car which was bogged.

He has not been seen since.

 

[Lucy.D]

Weather challenge in search for missing walker

The search for a walker missing in rugged bushland near Hollybank, in the state’s northeast, has continued into its fourth day.

www.police.tas.gov.au

 

[UnDiluted7]

It’s heartbreaking to think someone could just vanish like that. I really hope Peter is found safe. The terrain out there can be unforgiving, especially in cold weather.

I wonder if he tried to follow a track or creek line and got turned around. Disorientation can happen so fast, especially with a medical condition involved.

Peter sounds like a capable bloke, but even the most experienced can get caught out. Hoping for a miracle and sending strength to his loved ones.

 

[Lucy.D]

It’s heartbreaking to think someone could just vanish like that. I really hope Peter is found safe. The terrain out there can be unforgiving, especially in cold weather.

I wonder if he tried to follow a track or creek line and got turned around. Disorientation can happen so fast, especially with a medical condition involved.

Peter sounds like a capable bloke, but even the most experienced can get caught out. Hoping for a miracle and sending strength to his loved ones.

I would have thought if the car was stuck on a track then the logical thing to do would be to follow that track to your vehicle, get it unstuck and drive it out along the track you came on, not go wandering off into the bush.
Your explanation to his disappearance makes sense and your description why grieving people may react differently when losing a child like Gus lamont was eye-opening @UnDiluted7

 

[UnDiluted7]

I would have thought if the car was stuck on a track then the logical thing to do would be to follow that track to your vehicle, get it unstuck and drive it out along the track you came on, not go wandering off into the bush.
Your explanation to his disappearance makes sense and your description why grieving people may react differently when losing a child like Gus lamont was eye-opening @UnDiluted7

Thank you for your thoughtful reflection. I really appreciate you engaging with the explanation and recognizing how people can respond very differently, especially when faced with such immense grief like Gus Lamont’s family did. From my own personal and professional experience, I’ve often seen that logic, something we usually rely on, can be the very first thing to slip away in emergency situations. Emotions run high, and survival instincts or overwhelming grief can lead to actions that might seem illogical from the outside but make profound sense in context. Keeping a calm perspective in these emotional moments helps me better understand the human behaviour behind what might otherwise seem puzzling.

 

[Lucy.D]

Not looking good for Peter with searching tomorrow called off due to bad weather. I hope he's still got someone out there looking for him. The weather will clear up a bit on the weekend when hopefully the search will resume and on Monday the temp drops to a min of 1 degree C

Search for missing Tasmanian man suspended as severe weather closes in

Peter Willoughby has now been missing in rugged bushland for five days…

pulsetasmania.com.au