One item key to family’s survival

It's feared a Brisbane father and his two young sons are stranded in an isolated area of outback Queensland.

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen and his two young sons were thankfully found alive. Source: Supplied

CLEVER survival tactics by father Steven van Lonkhuyzen have emerged as the key to his family's ultimate survival while trapped in the Australian outback for 10 days.

The father of two boys used a number of methods in an attempt to attract attention as the first pictures of their ordeal were released yesterday.

Mr van Lonkhuyzen used a large, plastic bowl to capture rainwater, a vital instrument in keeping him and his sons, Ethan, 7, and Timothy, 5, alive. By the time the missing trio were discovered, the water was reportedly "dangerously close to depletion".

"They were very close to running out of food when they were found and they had nine litres of water with them in the car that were used up," South West District Acting Superintendent Mick Bianci said.

"[Mr van Lonkhuyzen] mainly focused on trying to keep the two boys entertained, keep them fed, he did ration the food they did have, to make it last longer."

Steven Van Lonkhuyzen, left, with his sons Timothy, 5, second left, and Ethan, 7, third left, speak with farmer Tom Wagner, centre, and a park ranger in the remote Expedition National Park. Picture: Queenland Police Source: AP

Safe at last. The trio pose for a photo after they were found by farmer Tom Wagner. Picture: Queenland Police Source: AP

The Brisbane father and his sons had set off on a road trip to Cairns on December 11, and fears began to set in for the family when they hadn't been seen or heard from for more than a week.

They became bogged on a path in Expedition national Park, 490km northwest of Brisbane on December 11.

They would eventually spend 10 days alone and fighting for survival in remote, rugged bushland.

Along with the plastic bowl, Mr van Lonkhuyzen used tools at his disposal to his advantage, including the car horn, hi-visibility material and a two-way radio.

Unfortunately, the radio's microphone was broken.

"He actually set out some hi-viz towels, spread them out on the ground around vehicle so it could much more visible in case an air search took place," South West District Acting Superintendent Mick Bianci said.

"He lit a fire to put up some smoke to attract anyone who was out there and saw the smoke and he sent out SOSs on the horn of his vehicle, but of course it's remote and isolated. There was no one to hear it."

Rescue crews attempt to free Mr van Lonkhuyzen's Mitsubishi Pajero. Source: Supplied

Mr van Lonkhuyzen used his car horn to send SOS signals. Source: Supplied

Along with his car horn, Mr van Lonkhuyzen used smoke in an attempt to signal for help. Source: Supplied

Mr van Lonkhuyzen said his young sons were aware of the situation that had unfolded but "there was nothing that could be done about it. It was just a matter of waiting".

The boys are recovering in Taroom Hospital while Mr van Lonkhuyzen's Mitsubishi Pajero remains bogged.

Meanwhile, the farmer who discovered the missing family said he "just had to find them".

Tom Wagner had been tending to cattle on his farm about 150km out of the north Queensland town of Taroom when he recalled seeing a vehicle matching description of Steven Van Lonkhuyzen's enter the nearby national park.

Mr Van Lonkhuyzen had last been seen filling up at a petrol station in Miles. Source: Supplied

Mr Wagner said although his grazing property is incredibly isolated, the Taroom community had banded together when they realised the young family could be close by.

After discussing the trio's disappearance with his church group and fellow farmers, something made him remember the white vehicle and it clicked they must been in the nearby national park.

"I realised where they had been and thought they could be in the park next to us," he said.

"It's 100,000 acres of really rough country, it's massive and easy to get lost in.

"I thought, if it was my own kids, just how frightening that would be. I had to go and find them, I just hoped I would find them alive."

The 54-year-old farmer, a father to three adult children, jumped on his quad bike armed with "bickies, water and a few sandwiches" and circled the entrances to Expedition National Park.

Mr Wagner had seen the vehicle on the news, and remembered seeing a similar one on the road to the national park. Source: Supplied

Finding track marks that led to a site where the vehicle had apparently been bogged and managed to get further into the rough bushland, he knew he was on the right track.

Mr Wagner said he was sure he would find the missing family, but was concerned about what sort of state they'd be in.

"I was surprised how good they were," he said.

"They were fairly bright, and just overjoyed when they saw me come up on the quad.

"The boys had their arms up, cheering, and dad was just relieved. They were fairly skinny, and had obviously lost a lot of weight."

Tom Wagner set out to find the family on his quad bike. Source: Supplied

Mr Wagner stayed with the family for hours after they were found, helping them out of the bush until they could be transported to hospital with the assistance of police and park rangers.

He says he'll stay in touch with Mr Van Lonkhuyzen and the boys, who were "pretty pleased" that they had been rescued.

"They didn't want me to leave them. All the little fella wanted was some eggs, so I hope he's got that by now and he should be happy," Mr Wagner said.

Acting Inspector Mick Bianchi has praised Mr Wagner for going out of his way to find the missing boys and father, and praised the family for staying with their vehicle.

"It would have been almost impossible for them to be found if they had wandered," he tells news.com.au.

"We're very grateful to Mr Wagner for going out of his way to go looking for Steven and the boys, and spending a considerable amount of his time with them today."

Mr Wagner said he was glad he changed his plans to go waterskiing at a nearby lake yesterday to look for the family.

"I've obviously been watching the news and I know it was a week of absolute disasters," he said.

"I thought to myself when I was out there, there's been two really horrible things that have happened this week, I hope we're not having three of them.

"It's good to have a good story like that in time for Christmas."

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