Peter WILLOUGHBY
Peter WILLOUGHBY
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.
Strong wind has prevented a police helicopter from joining the search, although a drone was successfully used.
Speaking to media on Tuesday afternoon, Inspector Nick Clark from Tasmania Police said while they remained hopeful of finding Mr Willoughby alive, the conditions were far from ideal.
"The searching has been done in trying conditions. It's very windy here today," he said.
"This is still a search mission … We are still trying to locate Mr Willoughby and return him to his family and friends."
The search entered its third day on Tuesday, with rescue crews on horseback joining the operation.
Mr Willoughby was reported missing on Sunday afternoon after he became disoriented and walked into the bush, police said.
He was in the area attempting to retrieve his silver Subaru Outback station wagon, which had become stuck on a nearby road last week.
Inspector Clark said police collected Mr Willoughby and his partner in the early hours of Thursday morning. Mr Willoughby elected to leave his vehicle at the site and make his own arrangements to recover it.
"The car was stuck. The location it was in is where there are various logs and boulders and just a very rough track," Inspector Clark said.
While trying to retrieve the car on Sunday afternoon with others, Mr Willoughby became separated.
"Unfortunately, he's become disoriented, he's wandered off into the bush and he hasn't been seen since,"
he said.
"When you've got a dense paddock of trees, it's going to be hard to search."
Police said Mr Willoughby is being treated for a medical condition, which can result in him sometimes becoming disoriented.
Police said unfavourable weather conditions with strong winds and continued rain added to the sense of urgency by rescue teams.
"There was heavy rain in that area, the weather was rather cold and the wind chill factor as well," Inspector Clark said.
"The big thing is the wind chill factor. The wind chill can drop that apparent temperature down a lot.
"He's lightly dressed and if you're caught out in those conditions hypothermia can be a danger to anyone."Mr Willoughby was last seen wearing a dark blue jumper, blue jeans and sneakers. Police said he was dressed for a day outing.
Temperatures in Launceston — the nearest weather station — reached a low of 7.8 degrees Celsius on Monday and 7.1 degrees on Tuesday morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The search so far has focused on scrub near Excalibur Road — about 2 kilometres from Hollybank — as well as Goulds Road, and moving southerly towards Patersonia.
Anyone who sees Mr Willoughby is asked to call police on 131 444.
Thursday, 9 October 2025 - 5:25 pm.
Despite the use of extensive resources, a fifth day of searching for a 76-year-old man missing in rugged bush in Tasmania’s northeast has not been able to locate him.
Peter Willoughby went missing on Sunday afternoon, about 2km from Hollybank, when he walked into heavy bushland and became separated from the people he was with.
Extensive police, ambulance and SES search and rescue resources have been deployed since Sunday to try and locate him.
Tasmania Police will not search the area on Friday due to safety concerns of officers working in heavily forested areas during a severe weather event.
Resources deployed earlier today involved specialist Tasmania Police Search and Rescue officers, Ambulance Tasmania paramedics and SES volunteers.
No helicopter or drone resources could be used due to inclement weather and low visibility.
Tasmania Police Northern District Search and Rescue Inspector Nick Clark said conditions were again very difficult, with search teams working in thick, rugged terrain through periods of rain, hail and extreme wind gusts.
Inspector Clark said teams scoured a new search area, to the south of the Hollybank reserve.
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate Mr Willoughby in today’s searching,” Inspector Clark said.
“We do, of course, hope that will be able to find Mr Willoughby, but as each day passes, there are grave concerns for his welfare.”
Mr Willoughby, pictured. was last seen wearing a dark blue jumper, blue jeans and sneakers.
Anyone who has information regarding the incident or who may have seen Mr Willoughby in the area from Sunday is asked to contact police on 131 444.
Tasmania Police 16 October 2025