Home / Disasters and Accidents / Man Found After 2 Days Dies in Hospital
Man Found After 2 Days Dies in Hospital
28 Aug
Summary
- 85-year-old man died days after being found in crashed car.
- He was missing for two days after leaving a dinner.
- The crash occurred miles from his intended destination.
An 85-year-old Australian man, Jacobus "John" Bakkum, passed away in a Melbourne hospital on Thursday, August 27. This was two days after he was discovered in his vehicle following a two-day disappearance.
Bakkum had been missing since Sunday, August 23. He had been at the Harrietville Hotel Motel with his wife, Mary, and was last seen leaving around 8 p.m. While his wife walked home, he drove but never arrived. A police search was initiated, and a passerby eventually found his car crashed down an embankment off the Omeo Highway on Tuesday, August 25.
Upon discovery, Bakkum was conscious and able to communicate, though he was later sedated. He was transported to the hospital with injuries deemed non-life-threatening at the time. He had been described as "chipper" by a relative before his condition worsened.
Bakkum was a significant figure in the Harrietville community, having moved there in 1971. He served as the local postmaster, managed the town's general store, and established a building company. He was also actively involved in various community committees. Born in the Netherlands, he emigrated to Australia as a child and later settled in Harrietville with his wife.
