A rider who slid off the road has coincidentally found the body of Sandgate rider Siemon Mulder who went missing while out for a ride last Monday (19 August 2019).
Siemon, 66, set out for a “joy ride” at 9am on Monday (19 August 2019) on his blue Triumph Sprint ST registration 769DW, heading to Esk. He was due back at noon but never returned.
His son, Paul, says it was a chance crash by a rider that led to the sad discovery this morning at 8.20 near a left-hand bend on the Maleny Stanley River Road at Booroobin.
Sad discovery
“Coincidentally a rider slid off the road at the exact same spot,” Paul says.
“Police told us he was picking his bike up when he noticed dad’s bike down a steep embankment.
“I don’t know who the rider is, but it was very lucky, otherwise we could have been looking for weeks and weeks.
“Volunteers actually walked along that area a few times already and we flew over it in a helicopter the other day.
“If you didn’t know where to look you wouldn’t have seen anything, even if you were right over the top.”
Siemon MulderThanks to volunteers
Paul says the whole family would like to extend their thanks to the South East Queensland motorcycle community for rallying to their aid in the search.
“Mum (Wendy) has been in tears of happiness for all the people who have come to our aid and helped with the search,” he says.
“A big thanks to everyone.”
He also thanked his brother’s UK employer who launched a Gofundme page to pay for the helicopter searches and all who donated money.
Colin Francis, whose daughter is scheduled to marry Siemon’s son, Luke, on August 31, says the discovery is “at least is some closure for the family, but it’s not the outcome we had hoped for”.
“We’ve been out on the Esk Rd today and there were hundreds of riders out,” he says.
“These people responded to our call and they have done a magnificent job.
“I even saw a few guys on scooters stopping and peering over the edges of the road.
“The motorcycle community camaraderie is real.”
Paul and SiemonPaul says he would occasionally ride his Kawasaki Ninja 300 with his father.
“I used to live in Victoria and I once rode up from Victoria and he met me half way,” he said.
“He was an avid rider who loved freedom.
“He was a true gentleman, very kind and a gentle man who was willing to help anyone out.”
The sad incident is a timely lesson for all solo riders to tell others where they are going.
Always take your mobile phone, download locator apps or, if in remote areas with no mobile signal, pack an EPIRB, beacon or GPS tracker.
A report on the incident will be prepared for the coroner.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24 hours a day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or at crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Quote this reference number: QP1901609506