’Blind luck’: Missing dad, boys found starving

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen, 37, was missing in the Outback with his two sons for at least 10 days. Source: Supplied

A FATHER and his two sons have been found starving but alive after at least 10 days bogged in a Queensland national park more than 490km northwest of Brisbane.

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen and his two young sons Ethan, 7, and Timothy, 5, were found bogged at the Expedition National Park near Taroom by a local farmer yesterday afternoon after going on a road trip from their Lota home to Cairns, leaving on December 11.

Mr Van Lonkhuyzen's car is last spotted pulling away from the petrol station. Source: Supplied

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen had last been seen at a petrol station at Miles. Source: Supplied

Mr Lonkhuyzen, 37 and his two young sons Ethan, 7, and Timothy, 5were on their way to cairns. Source: Supplied

South Brisbane detective acting superintendent Owen Elloy said the family were extremely lucky to have been found alive.

"Somebody is looking after them," he said.

He said a local farmer had been tending to his cattle on a property nearby when he remembered seeing a car that matched media reports of the missing trio driving into the national park recently.

He then went searching on his motorcycle into the park area, and after searching "all day" he came across Mr Lonkhuyzen and his vehicle.

South West District acting superintendent Mick Bianchi said rescue crews had been searching the entire district – about a third of the state – for the missing family.

"They were hungry, we can only assume they ran out of provisions in the last few days, they are OK and we have some police and park rangers heading up there, to figure out the best way to bring them out," he said.

"I've been told the car is very much bogged, at least up to the axle."

He praised the family for staying with their car during the ordeal.

"If nothing else that is a good thing, because if they had left the car it may have been impossible to find them," Mr Bianchi said.

The latest statement from Queensland Police on the circumstances surrounding the found family. Source: Supplied

Mother of the two boys and wife of Mr Van Lonkhuyzen, Karen Van Lonkhuyzen, said she found out yesterday afternoon that the trio were safe, after not contacting her when they were supposed to reach Cairns on December 15.

"I felt relieved," she said.

The mother said she could not wait to see the boys but was not sure when that would be.

Banana Shire councillor Vaughan Becker said the drive through Taroom was good, "but it's just blind luck the farmer remembers seeing them go in there".

Queenland Police Acting Superintendent Mick Bianchi said the community's efforts in locating the missing family were largely responible for the find.

"We've had a lot of police in the field the last few days in some very extreme temperatures searching for these missing people.

"It goes to show that when community pulls together we can achieve an excellent outcome."

Just hours before police found the family, Queenland Police Acting Superintendent Mick Bianchi appealed to the public for help to locate the boys.

"Despite a number of calls, there are still no sign of them. We are concerned for Stephen and the boys' welfare.

"They have not been heard for eleven days now. The weather conditions are extreme."

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