Mum, daughter found after two-day search

A missing mother and daughter have been found after police launched a large-scale search in rural Queensland when the pair failed to return home on Friday night.

Alarm bells were raised after authorities found a locked Ford Falcon ute near Old Esk North Road, Nanango, containing the phones of Michelle Lyn Melbourne, 54, and Nikita May Bennett, 36.

Police believed they went prospecting around at Seven Mile Diggings – an old gold fossicking area which was used between 1876 to 1900.

The site is located in the state’s South Burnett region, roughly 177.5km inland from the Sunshine Coast.

Emergency services located Ms Melbourne and Ms Bennett about 8am Sunday after two trail bike riders reported finding the two women near a structure outside the search area.

Queensland Police Inspector Russell Reynolds said the two women had been found safe and well within a kilometre radius of their car.

They were discovered in a temporary shelter near a waterfall in a creek in the prospecting area.

“We believe that one of them had become ill and that they had chosen to seek shelter because the sun was fading,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that they actually found shelter beside a waterfall, we think that the waterfall may have masked any calls for help that they were making.”

Mr Reynolds said the pair, whom police believe are locals to the area, had been taken to Kingaroy Hospital for a precautionary check-up.

He said their story was a “timely reminder” that people going off into the bush should take their phones with them, tell someone about their plans, and carry an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) if possible.

Police initially feared for Ms Melbourne and Ms Bennett’s safety due to the area’s rough and steep terrain, and near-freezing overnight conditions in an area where temperatures can drop to about 3C.

A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday comprised of Polair, the State Emergency Service (SES) and volunteers.

Mr Reynolds said police always considered search and rescue operations to be serious matters and the two women had been “very lucky” given the circumstances.

“Serendipitously there have been two trail bike riders who were riding the trail at sunrise and they came across the two ladies,” he said.

“We just want to thank all our partners and the community for being so patient and very helpful in this situation.”

Ms Melbourne’s son Ben had issued a worrying plea on social media on Saturday before his mother was found.

“Missing: Has anyone seen my mother and sister they been missing 24 hour last seen out at Seven Mile Diggings in Nanango Qld,” he wrote.

“Please if you see them please call the police I have put in reports and I have had a rescue helicopter and SES and police and volunteers help at Seven Mile Diggings for the last 24 hours please help searching for them please repost.

“Please help me find my mum and sister there (sic) names are Michelle Diebert Melbourne Nikita Bennett.”