85-Year-Old Man Dies Two Days After Being Rescued From Crash Near Mitta Mitta

An 85-year-old Australian man has died in hospital two days after being rescued from a vehicle that had crashed down an embankment in Victoria.

The man was identified as Jacobus “John” Bakkum, who went missing on the evening of August 23, 2026, after having dinner with his wife in Harrietville, Victoria.

Bakkum was driving home separately when he failed to arrive. His vehicle was later located after a passerby spotted his Toyota Prado down an embankment off the Omeo Highway near Mitta Mitta.

He was found alive but trapped inside the vehicle and was rescued and transported to hospital.

Police initially reported that Bakkum had suffered non-life-threatening injuries following the crash. However, his condition later deteriorated.

On August 27, Victoria Police confirmed that Bakkum had died at a hospital in Melbourne, two days after his rescue.

His death has brought a tragic end to the search for the elderly man, with authorities continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Source: People.com