An 85-year-old man who disappeared near his regional Victorian home has died in hospital, days after he was found in his crashed car.
John Bakkum had been leaving the Harrietville Hotel in Victoria’s High Country with his wife at 8pm on Sunday after the couple’s regular weekly meal. His wife normally walked the 500m home while he drove separately, and although she arrived soon after, Bakkum never made it back.
Concern grew quickly because of his age and the unusual nature of his disappearance. He was driving the couple’s 2007 silver Toyota Prado, prompting police to begin a major search and appeal for public help to find 85-year-old Jacobus, or John, after he vanished from Harrietville.
His vehicle was seen just after 9pm on the Great Alpine Rd near Dinner Plain. About 45 minutes later, it was spotted again in Omeo, roughly 85km from his home.
Bakkum and the Prado were eventually discovered by a passerby at about 11.30am on Tuesday, down an embankment off the Omeo Highway in Mitta Mitta. Police said the vehicle appeared to have been involved in a single-vehicle crash.
He was initially taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, but later died from those injuries.
Police had launched the search immediately and found him two days later in what was described as a miraculous rescue. Investigators will continue examining how the car left the road.
“Police would like to thank media and the public for their assistance,” Victoria Police said.
