Dean Harrison, from the Gold Coast, has dedicated his life to chasing yowies since he first came across a beast in 1995

An intrepid researcher has revealed the reason behind his his lifelong quest to learn more about Australia's elusive yowies.

Dean Harrison, from the Gold Coast, has dedicated his life to chasing yowies after he first came across the mythical beast in 1995.

'I wanted answers,' he told Daily Mail Australia. And he was determined to get them.

Over the past 25 years Mr Harrison claims he has had several encounters with the ape-like creatures, known as yowies in Australia, which are similar to the Sasquatch or Bigfoot in the United States.

There have been thousands of reported sightings of the nocturnal creatures in Australia over the past century, he said.

There have been thousands of reported sightings of the creatures in Australia over the past century (stock image pictured)

Mr Harrison (pictured) has spent the past two decades searching for the creatures. He launched a website to allow anyone with possible yowie sightings to get in touch

Mr Harrison was living at a rural property in Eagle Heights in South East Queensland when he claims he first spotted one.

'I came home and there was this thing in my backyard. It was massive and standing on two feet. It was growling and it was ripping out the foliage.'

Mr Harrison was curious and considered grabbing a torch and going outside to investigate but he was too scared. Instead, he locked the doors and watched from the window.

His next sighting was even more terrifying. It was 1997 and he decided to go for a run as the sun was setting in Ormeau.

Mr Harrison had stopped to take a phone call when he heard what sounded like tree felling. As he looked over his shoulder he said he saw a massive beast tearing through the trees.

As it began to roar Mr Harrison took off and dodged through the bush in search of safety.

'It sounded like a bear and a lion rolled into one,' he said.

Australia has had thousands of yowie sightings over the past century. The Blue Mountains in New South Wales, has a high number of Yowie sightings, followed by the Sunshine and Gold coasts in Queensland

Over the past 25 years Mr Harrison has had several encounters with the ape-like creatures, known as yowies in Australia, which are similar to the Sasquatch or Bigfoot in the United States (stock image)

'It was only by the grace of God that I survived.'

Mr Harrison managed to find a clearing, which he said forced the yowie to retreat into the bushes.

'It was built like bodybuilder,' he said. ' It had no neck and was covered in reddish hair'.

His most deadly encounter came in 2009 while on a camping trip.

He said he was lucky to be alive after he was forced to wrestle one for survival.

'I heard heavy walking and as I turned I just saw it running straight at me in pitch black.

'The scary thing is that yowies have a massive advantage over us because of their eyesight in the dark. The thing that knocked me over ran down a hill in pitch darkness past obstacles, tree, and logs. The angles were so steep but it sprinted down.'

The group of yowie hunters he was with appeared just in time with torches and scared the creature away, he said.

Mr Harrison has spent the past two decades searching for the creatures. He launched a website to allow anyone with possible yowie sightings to get in touch.

He now has a team who he works with that goes in search of yowies once they have been reported.

It's a tireless job that has taken him across the country.

The most recent sighting was in November last year, when a 53-year-old truck driver claimed to have seen a hulking creature while driving through the Gold Coast Hinterland

'We hear stories from all sorts, doctors, lawyers, harden people - big burly guys get in touch, truck drivers and that. They don't believe it and then suddenly their world is changed.'

No one has even been able to take a clear picture of the elusive creatures because they are always spotted in the night and are good at hiding in trees and bushes, Mr Harrison said.

Australia's top spots to find a yowie: Blue Mountains, New South Wales

The Sunshine,Queensland

The Gold Coast, Queensland

Conodale National Park, Queensland

Mount Kembla, New South Wales Source: Australian Yowie Research Advertisement

The most recent sighting was in November last year, when a 53-year-old truck driver claimed to have seen a hulking creature while driving through the Gold Coast Hinterland.

He told the Gold Coast Bulletin he had never believed in the creatures until he saw it in the flesh.

The Blue Mountains, in New South Wales, has a high number of Yowie sightings, followed by the Sunshine and Gold coasts in Queensland.

The first reported sighting was in Sydney in 1790, there were a number of other sightings reported in the area in the preceding decade.

Mr Harrison believes there are two types of Yowie species in Australia. The larger stands at around 6-10ft tall. The smaller species stands about 4-5ft tall.

The Yowie, also known as the Australopithecine , is believed to have walked to Australia from Asia on 'land bridges' during the ice age.