A missing 77 year old man has been located in bushland north of Exton in northern Tasmania.

On Friday 10/2/2023, Police were advised of a missing 77 year old Exton man John Hughes.

The man left his residence on Friday 10/2/2023 at around 10.30am to go for a walk and was seen a short time later walking along Porters Bridge Rd.

Police were advised later that day when the man failed to attend an appointment.

As a result police conducted searches along Porters Bridge Rd, and the surrounding area, utilising a Police drone equipped with infra red detecion capability, SES volunteers, Tasmania Fire Service volunteers, Police Search and Rescue squad and local volunteers.

This morning, Police, Tasmania Fire and SES volunteers were further deployed to the area, along with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

As a result of information recived from members of the public the search area was able to reduced to an area around the Meander Ricer Bridge, Porters Bridge Road.

Mr Hughes was located in thick bushland approximately 200m north of the Meander River about 150m in from Porters Bridge Rd, by a volunteer member of the Tasmania Fire Service, at approximately 11.55am.

Mr Hughes was located alive but in a critical condition. Tas Ambulance attended and Mr Hughes was recovered from the bush and transported to the LGH.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in the search for this man, particularly those vounteers that gave up their Saturday to help someone they didn’t know,” Senior Sergeant Michael Gillies said.

“Without the assistance of the SES and TFS volunteers this may have had a very different outcome for the missing man, his friends and family.”