Missing Australian Man Found
About 2 months ago I posted a story here on On The Path about an Australian man who had went missing in Niseko after leaving a bar and heading back to his lodge a short distance away. As promised, here is an update to the story with some sad results.
A jogger has found the body of Australian Scott McKay near areas scoured by rescuers when he went missing in a blizzard in Japan two months ago.
Police on the island of Hokkaido have confirmed the discovery of the 27-year-old Brisbane man’s body in a river just a few hundred metres past the lodge where he had been staying.
Mr McKay was last seen leaving a resort bar in the small village of Niseko in the early hours of February 20. His two mates left the bar about 15 minutes later, but when they arrived at their accommodation, Mr McKay was not there.
Speaking on behalf of local police, Niseko safety liaison officer Derek Bagel said the body, found on Wednesday, had been dressed in the same clothes Mr McKay was wearing when he was last seen.
Mr McKay’s remains have been taken to Hokkaido University for formal identification.
Mr Bagel said crews who searched for the missing Australian had come very close to the spot where his body was eventually found. “The river he was found in is very close to areas that were checked repeatedly, including by police divers and volunteer searchers,” he said.
But Mr Bagel said the terrain was extremely challenging. “It’s twisty, tangled and difficult with four to five switchbacks in a 10 to 15 metre area with lots of trees – a creek really, maybe knee to thigh deep at the moment and perhaps one metre across,” he said.
“With the snow melt and the increase in river volume, his body must have finally become more visible.” Hypothermia can cause disorientation. Heavy snow, below-zero temperatures and gale-force winds initially hampered the search for the IT business owner.
Sniffer dogs, helicopters, friends and family all failed to locate Mr McKay’s body in the following weeks.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr McKay’. I want to thank Snowman at Asahikawa English Conversation School for giving me the link to this story.
So what was the reason of his death ? Any body knows about this till date. As this one is really a serious matter and I think we should consider it seriously.
This story is shocking.Everything is so mysteriously.The searchers are heroes. Even the heavy snow, below-zero temperatures and gale-force winds they haven’t stopped the search.
Thanks for your comment Naomi, it was a tragedy indeed. The ironic part of the story is the Australian man was working on a GPS device that would help locate missing skiers.
His parents are devastated, and our hearts go out to them all.
The investigation continues, but there are no marks on his body to indicate foul play. At this time it looks like he fell into the very small river and hypothermia quickly set in, it is very strange indeed.
This is so awful story, especially for the unconditional weather that time. For some skiers its better to careful.
sad to know that. sorry for the bad news, when it comes to bad catastrophe like that he should be accompanied by someone who can watch over the victim.
So sad to hear. Is he drunk? I cant believe he died because of falling in to a small river.Anyway I am expecting another post regarding the investigation result.
Oh so sad to know but he deserves justice,By the way I open this site accidentally and its so great Laser Skin Resurfacing and Tightening this is amazing.what are you waiting for be their customer.and I assure there’s no hassle.
Now you do not know when you will die. Such kind of incidence simply put a cold waive in my heart.
I just want to make my self in a such manner that I will be able to tackle every situation in any circumstances.
That was quite ironic and awful.We really don’t know when is our time so live life to the fullest.
There were times when we came to know such incidents seldom but our world is full of such incidents and stories now. Although I don’t know that why he was dead but I can read many such stories all around the world.
skiers out there must be careful. Accidents might h append anytime anywhere. Be thankful he had been found.
I never want that life should end in that way when you have your love ones. I always wanted that I should die when my whole family enjoying their life and there is no sorrow.
All smiling face of my close one should be at there when I die.
That’s really sad … these kind of death is similar to the death of animal when no one is around you.
Rest his soul in peace.
That was sad and awful, Nobody wants to die in that way.Where ever we go accidents might happened better to have extra careful in what ever we do.
That was really unfortunate. But when people died this is totally irrelevant where his/her dead body is.
This is very tragic. Never in my life that I imagined to die that way. May he rest in peace.
That was sad and awful, Nobody wants to die in that way.Where ever we go accidents might happened better to have extra careful in what ever we do.
That was sad and awful, Nobody wants to die in that way