The family of Luke Gourlay, who vanished from the Sunshine Coast in December 2023, are pleading for more help from authorities as the year mark approaches. Despite searches and appeals, no trace of the 29-year-old has been found, leaving his loved ones with mounting frustration and unanswered questions.
The family of Sunshine Coast man Luke Gourlay , who disappeared on Boxing Day 2023, are disheartened there have been no leads about his location in more than a year. Mr Gourlay, 29, was last seen near Steve Irwin Way, Glenview, close to Ewen Maddock Dam about 4pm on December 26, 2023. His family said he visited the Landsborough Pub earlier that day, withdrew $500 and walked towards the Bruce Highway.
They said he left his work van close to the railway station with the windows down, keys in the ignition, and numerous personal belongings inside. 'He went missing on the side of a busy road with cars driving past, after three people were concerned enough to dial triple-0,' Suzanne Searle said. Aside from the manner Mr Gourlay left his vehicle, his family said it was 'strange' that before his disappearance he underwent dental treatment and purchased new clothes, including distinctive orange Calvin Klein slides. The slides went missing between when Mr Gourlay was at the Landsborough Pub and when he was last seen by motorists a few hours later, walking barefooted and acting irrationally. 'Those slides and the Ford hat he wore have never shown up and I wonder if he visited somewhere after the pub and left them there,' Suzanne Searle said. Mr Gourlay had an unsettled childhood after the death of his father. Mr Gourlay worked as a courier for a Sunshine Coast-based company, and spent weeks around Christmas 2023 near Kenilworth, before inexplicably visiting Landsborough, almost 60 kilometres away. 'Luke can live life normally for three-to-six months of the year, then tends to go off the rails,' Suzanne Searle said. Military resources, State Emergency Service volunteers, the mounted unit and dive squad searched areas around Steve Irwin Way, Mooloolah Connection Road and Old Caloundra Road. Both Suzanne Searle and Merle Searle said they felt police should be doing more to search for Mr Gourlay and support the family. Merle Searle said she had tried emails in addition to calls, and had been unsuccessful on both fronts. Suzanne Searle said it frustrated her other missing person cases received what she considered a greater amount of publicity and police attention. Queensland Police said the most recent search for Mr Gourlay was conducted in August, 2024 and that police had maintained regular contact with the family. Police and Emergency Services Minister Dan Purdie said the Missing Persons Unit 'worked tirelessly' to locate thousands of missing people each year. 'I acknowledge their pain, suffering and frustration. As a former frontline officer, I know that even the smallest tip-offs about missing persons can go a long way so it is vital to report any relevant information to police,' he said.
MISSING PERSONS LUKE GOURLAY SUNSHINE COAST AUSTRALIA POLICE INVESTIGATION FAMILY FRUSTRATION
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Family Frustrated by Lack of Resources in Search for Missing Hiker Hadi NazariHadi Nazari, a 24-year-old hiker from Melbourne, went missing in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales on December 22nd. His family is urging NSW Police to bring in more resources and assistance from Victorian authorities, citing the vast search area and the growing concern over his disappearance.
Read more »
Missing Surfer's Brother Shares Family's Heartbreak as Search ContinuesLance Appleby, 28, disappeared after a shark attack off Granites beach in South Australia. His brother, Kenneth, expressed the family's devastating pain while emergency services continue the search. A jet skier found Appleby's board with bite marks and a severed rope, indicating a shark encounter. The community rallied around the family, raising over $75,000 through a GoFundMe campaign.
Read more »
Luke Littler nears darting perfection in spectacular opening win at PDC worldsTeenager Luke Littler progressed to the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship with a 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle
Read more »
Porco Rosso sailor Luke Watkins recounts rescue during Sydney to Hobart yacht raceSailor Luke Watkins spent 45 minutes in the water after he was thrown overboard during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race early on Friday morning. He says his safety training and quick thinking from his crew saved his life.
Read more »
Teenage Darts Sensation Luke Littler Survives Scare to Advance at World Championship17-year-old Luke Littler, nicknamed 'The Nuke,' defeated Ryan Joyce in a thrilling fourth-round match at the World Darts Championship, keeping his championship dreams alive. Littler needed four match darts to secure the victory against Joyce, who is known as 'Relentless'.
Read more »
Luke Littler dismantles Aspinall to make PDC world championship last fourLuke Littler beat Nathan Aspinall 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the PDC world championship to set up a last-four match with Stephen Bunting
Read more »