The family of a Canadian bushwalker missing in Kosciuszko National Park for more than a week are buoyed be fresh reports of voices, but frustrated by the lack of manpower behind the search.
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Helicopters have remained grounded as poor weather hinders search efforts to find Prabhdeep Srawn.
Family member Tej Sahota, an Ohio-based doctor, said the family on the ground had been told there was sustained sound - thought to be a human voice - being heard in the search area.
They thought it was a male voice and might be saying something like "help me" repeatedly.
He said it was believed the voice might be coming from the bottom portion of a gorge or gully near the search area.
Mr Srawn’s family are frustrated that there is a lack of manpower but accept the SES/Police know what they are doing.
There have been calls on Twitter for the Australian Army to be deployed in the search.
Twitter users have even called on the Prime Minister to take action.
But Dr Tej said family on the ground remained hopeful and buoyed by the development.
The Westpac Life Saver and the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue helicopters have previously joined ground crews involved in the search, as hopes for the 25 year old appeared to fade as fresh snow and freezing conditions hit the slopes.
A spokesman for NSW Police said officers, State Emergency Service volunteers, National Parks and Wildlife Service officers and locals would continue to focus on Lady Northcote Canyon, the Opera House Hut area and the western face of Mount Kosciuszko after reports of voices heard in the area.
Air crews used thermal camera technology to search the region on Wednesday, but failed to find the Bond University law student and Canadian Armed Forces master corporal, who parked a rental car in the Charlotte Pass Village on Monday, May 13. The car was due to be returned on May 15.
The missing man's parents travelled from Ontario to Jindabyne on Tuesday, but declined to comment.
They have declined contract offers from an Australian current affairs program for an exclusive television interview.
From the US, Dr Sahota said Mr Srawn had extensive cold-weather camping experience from the Canadian Army and may have taken shelter in areas of bush or a gully.
“He may not make it out tonight but we're hopeful food and medications can get to him,” Dr Sahota said.
“From a physician's perspective, it will take a few days. He'll be malnourished, hypothermic and hypoxic.”
Peter Hosking of the Kosciuszko Huts Association spent Wednesday with Mr Srawn's family, saying they remained positive 10 days after his disappearance.
“Coming from the perspective of a hiker who does a lot in the area, being lost in those conditions for so long is very extreme,” Mr Hosking said.
“There is no way of being able to protect yourself from the elements. If he is above the snowline I would class it as around 5 or 10 per cent [chance of survival] and below the snowline at this point maybe 40 or 50 per cent.”
