今日吃瓜

UPDATE – Dec 11

Sadly, a body believed to be Bridget’s was recovered on Friday afternoon, with a cause of death yet to be determined. Those close to Bridget have requested privacy at this difficult time.

Friends and family of Bridget Flack wish to thank all those that have volunteered their time and resources, and those who have searched day听and night to help in finding her over recent days.

The ways in which Bridget’s memory and legacy will be honoured wil be published in the Star Observer in coming days.

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UPDATE – Dec 10

On Tuesday afternoon over 100 individuals, many of whom do not personally know Bridget Flack, joined together to scour the bushland along the Yarra Bend Park where she was last believed to have been sighted on the afternoon of Monday November 30.

Split up into approximately 18 groups, each were designated areas to search by volunteer coordinators. The area searched encompassed some 260 hectares and is one of the largest pockets of inner-city bushland in Melbourne. Despite the group鈥檚 best efforts and due to sometimes impenetrable and dense nature of the bushland, no items belonging to Bridget were retrieved during the search.

On Wednesday, spurred on by a number of reported sightings across Melbourne鈥檚 inner and outer north听search groups spread the reach further than the Melbourne metro area but were similarly unsuccessful.

An update on the clothing Bridget was believed to be wearing was released on Wednesday, with these pictures below.

On the afternoon of the search, police 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 participate in any way other听than by听speaking with half of the group members who had items of interest retrieved in their search.

Organisers claim that despite having tried to connect with them, Victoria Police have continued to 鈥渄别肠濒颈苍别 their invitation.鈥�听However, Victoria Police have confirmed that they will escalate their own search efforts with an air and water search to be conducted within the next 24 hours.

Members of the Facebook group Have You Seen Bridget?,听which so far this week has already attracted over 3.5K followers, continue to coordinate the search efforts, posting updates, recourses and any leads that might prove beneficial. However, with Bridget having now been missing for 10 days, finding her safe and well becomes all the more crucial with each passing hours.

Anyone with information, is urged to 听get in touch with the search group coordinators through the听 or to contact Melbourne North Police Station on 03 8379 0800.

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The Melbourne community have mobilised and rallied together to help in the search for missing person Bridget Flack, who has been missing since Monday November 30.

Last seen on Lygon Street in Carlton around 10am on Monday. Bridget was believed to be carrying a light pink day pack with her. Later that day she was believed to have gone for a walk in the vicinity of Yarra Bend, though did not return home later that night.

Speaking with Star Observer, Bridget鈥檚 sister Angela Pucci Love said that for Bridget to have disappeared was unusual and that they 鈥�had been chatting daily for the last few weeks.鈥�

Love adds that Bridget, 鈥�had been trying to get help for some mental health issues and had been waiting for a bed. Sadly a bed became available for her on Wednesday, two days too late.鈥�

鈥�I hadn鈥檛 heard from her on Monday, but I thought 24 hours wasn鈥檛 that unrealistic. Then Tuesday night came, and I hadn鈥檛 heard from her and her best friend hadn鈥檛 heard from her and they talk all the time, that鈥檚 when the alarm was raised.鈥�

听Information which has since come to light, suggests that there was a potential sighting or talks of a conversation Bridget had with people in the Dights Falls area on Monday afternoon, but her phone hasn鈥檛 been used since听and has subsequently been switched off since Thursday morning. Police believe the last area her phone pinged was in听or around听Alphington, Ivanhoe and the Yarra river.

These areas have since been searched, but it 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛 appear that anyone has been there recently.

鈥�There are two things. Obviously we are desperately worried about her, but also being a transgender woman, I鈥檓 very concerned she is a much more vulnerable member of the public. We desperately need to know she is safe.

鈥�There are two theories, there鈥檚 one side which is that she has been hurt or has hurt herself and the other side is that for whatever reason she just wants to disappear for a while.

鈥�Obviously, we are hoping 颈迟鈥檚 the later, but I suppose 颈迟鈥檚 just making sure she knows that no one will be upset and that no one wants anything more than to know that she is safe.

鈥淎nytime a member of the public has had a potential sighting we have been sent CCTV footage, to date none of them have been correct. I am acutely aware that it has been over a week now, which is terrifying, and the police information seems to always be four or five days late which is really hard to use to spark action.

鈥淏ridget is so loved by her family and we support her so much, there are no issues about her not being accepted by her family. I think she has had such a hard year and I鈥檓 pretty certain COVID has cemented her struggles this year, as it has done with a lot of people. I think she has just reached a tipping point. We were happy she had said that she recognised she needed more help, 颈迟鈥檚 just a shame with the way the system is, 颈迟鈥檚 taken so long.鈥�

听Bridget is described as being听caucasian, about 170cm tall, with a thin build and shoulder length brown hair and is likely travelling on foot or via public transport. Aside from being known to frequent the Yarra Bend Park and Merri Creek walking trails, she is known to frequent both the northern suburbs and the Ballarat area.

Love concludes by saying that, 鈥�If Bridget is seen, call 000, we don鈥檛 know what head space she is in if she is doing this. Also from a mental health perspective 颈迟鈥檚 the fastest way to get her help right now.

鈥淗er family and friends just want her to be safe and well, and we are just so thankful to the community for the tireless effort and the support. While I am very aware of the social traction that this has gained, I know how quickly news becomes old. We need to keep looking and we don鈥檛 give up.鈥�

Police were unable to provide any further update when contacted by Star Observer on Tuesday morning,听December 8. They have however requested that anyone who sees Bridget or has information about her current whereabouts听contacts the Melbourne North Police Station on 03 8379 0800.

A has been set up by Bridget鈥檚 friends and family to help in her search.

If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.

For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14

For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .