A search is under way for a mother of three who vanished while out for a run on Sunday morning.
Victoria Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate missing Ballarat East woman Samantha Murphy.
The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her property on Eureka Street to go for a run in Canadian State Forest about 7am on Sunday.
Police and family have concerns for her welfare due to the hot weather on Sunday and her disappearance being out of character.
“Obviously, yesterday was a hot day … there (is) obviously increased risk there because of the heat,” Acting Inspector Lisa McDougall said.
“It raises the urgency of the search for us and obviously we account for the fact that that will have an impact on someone’s health.”
Police and the SES searched the state forest area behind the Buninyong Golf Club on Monday.
She said Murphy usually goes for a run every day and is very familiar with the Canadian State Forest and surrounding areas.
“The area of search isn’t completely remote, we are on the outskirts of Ballarat, and it’s not that far from urban areas as well,” MacDougall said.
Acting Inspector MacDougall said data received from Murphy’s phone, which she had been carrying at the time, pinged near the golf course.
Murphy is described as caucasian, about 5’8″ tall with a slim build and shoulder-length blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing black half-length leggings and a maroon/brown colored singlet.
Anyone who sights Murphy is urged to contact Ballarat East police station on (03) 5336 6000.
