Breakthrough in the search for man missing in freezing bushland for six days as his dog is found alive and well
- A pet dog has been found alive after he and his owner went missing last Friday
- The dog was found near Dargo High Plains in Victoria's Alpine National Park
- Police, SES and volunteers are still searching for the 23-year-old pet owner
There has been a breakthrough in the search for a 23-year-old bushwalker after his dog was found well and alive in a freezing alpine region six days after the pair went missing.
Rocky, a Jack Russell terrier, was found near Dargo High Plains in Victoria's Alpine National Park about 4pm on Wednesday.
The dog was spotted in the same area on Tuesday, but hadn't been picked up.
Police, SES crews and volunteers are still searching for his owner Jeremy Boyden in the area, where temperatures have dipped to below freezing.
Mr Boyden was last spotted with his dog in the same area at about 5pm on Friday.
Rocky, a Jack Russell terrier, was found near Dargo High Plains in Victoria's Alpine National Park about 4pm on Wednesday (stock image)
Mr Boyden was last seen wearing a green and gold jumper and blue tracksuit pants.
More than 60 rescuers have been searching 15 square kilometres of the steep and rocky area for him since Monday.
About 10 of the 23-year-old's friends – one of whom described him as 'the life of the party' – are also involved in the search.
The rescue team has rated the difficulty of the terrain as a 'nine out of ten'.
Police, SES crews and volunteers are still searching for pet owner Jeremy Boyden (pictured) in freezing after he went missing last Friday
Business owners Kerrie and Pete Leemon told the Herald Sun his car had broken down on last Wednesday and he spent the night in front of the town hall.
On Thursday morning, he walked to the general store and bought some diesel and greeted the owners who said 'he didn't seem distressed or anything'.
He drove back to the store after filling up his ute with petrol.
'Looking back now, we probably should have asked him a few more questions,' Mr Leemon said.
Mr Boyden told the pair he had plans to drive back home to Ferntree Gully in eastern Melbourne and departed around 11am on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, he walked to the General Store and bought some diesel and greeted the owners who said 'he didn't seem distressed or anything'
The rescue team rated the difficulty of the terrain as a 'nine out of ten' during their search for Mr Boyden
He was travelling towards Dargo with his father when he grabbed his dog and ran away into the bush on a remote road north of the Wongungarra area.
The reason for My Boyden's sudden separation from his father is unclear.
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Victoria Police assisted in the search on motorbikes and helicopters and are desperate to find Mr Boyden.
'It's pretty devastating when you hear that your best mate has gone missing … we're out here doing everything we can,' Mr Boyden's friend Jake Reid said.
'He's a ripped. He's always been the type of guy who's been the life of the party. We just want him back.'
Victoria Police assisted in the search on motorbikes and helicopters and are desperate to find Mr Boyden
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