Published 12:00a.m. 6th August 2008

| Amy Remeikis and AAP

Updated 2:13p.m. 6th August 2008

Bli Bli bushwalker Robert Young has been missing in the Lamington National Park on the Gold Coast since early on Saturday afternoon. Photo: Contributed

Soldiers recently returned from Iraq have joined police and SES volunteers in the search for a 65-year-old Bli Bli man missing in rugged bushland on the Gold Coast since the weekend.

About 60 SES volunteers and a large contingent of police this morning resumed the search for Robert Young, who became separated from friends at Running Creek Falls, at the western end of Lamington National Park, early on Saturday afternoon.

They were joined at noon today by about 60 soldiers from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment of the Queensland Mounted Infantry.

The two platoons will add more manpower to the search as well as provide specialist communications equipment and military maps, a defence force spokesman said.

The regiments only recently returned from southern Iraq, where they served in the last rotation of the Overwatch Battlegroup.

Search coordinators believe Mr Young might have attempted to walk out of the park, making it more difficult to predict his location.

Emergency services helicopters are also involved in the search, one armed with thermal imaging equipment, and a special emergency response team is expected to join the search with night vision equipment if it extends past sunset.

Mr Young had been walking with a group of seven on Saturday and was believed to have been at the front of the group as they followed the track.

His friends last saw him about 1.30pm. It is thought he had taken a wrong turn off the track.

Although described as "super-fit", Mr Young is thought to be wearing only light clothing.

He also suffers from industrial deafness and his searchers are worried that he may not be able to hear those calling for him, or the engines of the rescue helicopters as they scour the bushland from the air.

A New South Wales SES contingent is expected to join the search this morning.

Search coordinators believe Mr Young might have attempted to walk out of the park, making it more difficult to predict his location.

Staff from Bli Bli’s Think Pharmacy said Mr Young was among the regular customers they refer to as “family” and their thoughts were with his loved ones.