US authorities find body of missing Australian soldier Paul McKay

ABC News ^ | 17 Jan 2014 | anon

[BlackVeil]

Police have found the body of an Australian soldier who has been missing in the United States for more than two weeks.

Captain Paul McKay disappeared on New Year's Eve after catching a bus to a remote town near the Canadian border and walking into the Adirondack mountains in freezing conditions.

His body was found near the summit of Scarface Mountain in upstate New York about 11am on Wednesday (local time), according to a police statement.

Police say they have not discovered any signs of foul play.

...

[BlackVeil]

This is a very sad case, which has been getting a lot of coverage in the Australian media. Paul McKay had been struggling since returning from service in Afghanistan. He then went to the US, and simply hiked off to a most remote area - and walked straight into the polar vortex.

In the media, they showed a massive search effort, and many US vets joined in, hoping to find him so he could have the help he needed.

[Hugin]

Captain McKay's father raised the alarm after he received an email in which his son said he was giving him all his property and possessions.

He left behind personal items after checking out of his hotel - including his camera and clothes.

Clearly suicide. How sad.

[CivilWarBrewing]

I saw this story on one of those "ID" shows.. He met a couple camping in the mountains and they said he was very proper and appreciative and polite and stayed with them overnight then left on foot. They thought it was odd that he headed straight out into the wilderness, away from civilization.

I'm glad this family now has closure. Although tough, he succumbed to the elements and chose to die this way.

[Sherman Logan]

Suicide by weather. Very sad.

This weather was survivable, had he been equipped and wanted to survive. I myself have camped out for most of a week in temperatures as low as -33F. Challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but quite doable.

[Ray76]

Map

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.27372,-74.03189&z=13&t=R&marker0=44.26536%2C-74.07394%2C7.6%20km%20SW%20of%20Lake%20Placid%20NY