12:00a.m. 5th August 2008

To those who complained of last night’s chilly temperature, spare a thought for Robert Young.

The search for the missing 65-year-old Bli Bli man continues today after he became separated from a group who were enjoying a bushwalk through Lamington National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland on Saturday.

About 40 SES members resumed the search at 7am. The Westpac Surf Lifesaving Helicopter will conduct an early morning FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) sortie in support of the search.

Mr Young was wearing shorts, a navy blue T-shirt and walking boots when he was last seen by his friends.

He was carrying a backpack which his companions believed contained at least a jumper. However, night temperatures in the national park were expected to drop to under 10 degrees.

Hampering the search efforts of more than 70 SES volunteers from the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan, the Scenic Rim, Somerset, Brisbane and Pine Rivers is that Mr Young is industrially deaf and may have problems hearing the search teams.

Mr Young is believed to have become separated from his friends about 1.30pm on Saturday. The group of about eight was walking at Running Creek Falls, at the western end of the popular national park.

Police officers involved in the search have said they hold grave concerns for Mr Young’s wellbeing.

Once darkness falls, the search has been suspended for the safety of those involved, but has resumed at first light.

Lamington National Park is a popular choice for bushwalking, but can be deceptive to those not familiar with the area.