A huge search is on for a couple in their 70s who are believed to have been missing in the East MacDonnell Ranges since last Friday.
A ranger raised the alarm after noticing that the car of German tourists, Wilfred Thor, 76, and his wife Gisela Thor, 73, had not moved in several days from its parking spot at Trephina Gorge,
The temperatures in the area around Alive Springs have been surging above 40 degrees and there are grave fears for the pair’s safety.
NT Police Duty Superintendent Rob Burgoyne said officers had been to the couple’s hotel room and found important medication, although he did not specify what it was for.
“You wouldn’t want to go without it for days in hot weather, and obviously they didn’t intend to spend days at Trephina Gorge,” he said. “Perhaps they have fallen down somewhere and have managed to find some shade and some water and are still alive.”
The ABC reports that, recent rare rains in Central Australia mean there is likely to be easy access to water for the couple.
Some 23 police officers are searching for the couple today, using a helicopter, motorbikes, quad bikes and dogs.
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Sadly the man has been found deceased. Search continues for the lady.