Stephen Crean

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Stephen Crean (1947 - August 1985) was the son of Frank Crean, an Australian politician.

Stephen Crean was the brother of Simon Crean, also an Australian federal politician, and David Crean, also a politician in the state legislature of Tasmania.

In August 1985, Stephen Crean set off from Charlotte Pass ski village, apparently intending to ski to the nearby Thredbo ski resort. He apparently became disoriented in falling snow, became lost and died. Crean's disappearance resulted in one of the most intensive searches undertaken in the Australian snowfields, but he was not found. No trace of Crean was found for more than 2 years, when a hiker found his remains by chance. Crean's remains were found only a few kilometers from Charlotte Pass.

After Crean's disappearance, there was extensive debate about the methodology of searching for missing persons, and also about requiring new safety regulations for skiers and walkers using remote areas.

An article in Time magazine which mentions Crean's disappearance:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1659872_1659465_1659442-2,00.html

An account of a skiing trip which refers to Crean's disappearance:

http://nordicskiclub.org.au/kag_arch/a_week_at_charlottes.shtml