Human remains have been found in bushes not far from the wreckage of a car belonging to a man who went missing three months ago.
Gage Wilson, 31, was last seen at Hakea Court in Mullumbimby, in far north New South Wales, at around 5am on May 18.
His abandoned van was later found crashed into a tree on Koonyum Range Road in Wilsons Creek, in the Byron Bay hinterland.
Mr Wilson did not have his phone with him at the time and it is unclear whether there was anyone else in the van with him.
A large search party was launched amid fears the man may have fallen out of his truck and into the woods in a daze after the crash.
Mr Wilson’s heartbroken family took to social media on Tuesday to reveal a sad update they received from police.
Volunteers searching have discovered skeletal remains 1km from the wreckage of Mr Wilson’s van.
The remains are known to have been found on August 4.
Volunteers searching found human remains believed to be those of Gage Wilson
The remains were found 1km from where the remains of Mr Wilson’s van were found (pictured)
“The body has been sent to Newcastle for a forensic autopsy and DNA testing to confirm if it could be Gage,” his sister Niki Manidakis posted on the Help Find Gage Wilson Facebook page.
“The police are 90 percent sure that the body is my brother’s.”
He urged everyone not to get involved in anything that deviates from what the family knows about Gage.
“If you hear speculation and rumors about things that may have happened, please dispel them as we would consider these types of rumors or unfounded conversations to be very disrespectful to both our family and especially Gage,” Ms. Manidakis said.
‘I would also like to take the time to thank everyone who participated in the search, shed many tears and invested their time to help find Gage.
‘It’s a very sad time for us.
‘I will keep you informed about the progress of the DNA analysis results.’
Gage Wilson had been missing since May 18.
A GoFundMe page set up to aid search efforts described Mr Wilson as “a unique individual with a wonderful and generous heart”.
“Gage is known for his ability to make us all laugh. He is honest and authentic, and his presence is sorely missed,” she said.