The large-scale search has resumed for a man who has been missing in South Australia’s far north in searing heat for two days.
But police have rescued the man’s dehydrated travelling companion, who was found several kilometres from the pair’s bogged vehicle and is now receiving treatment in hospital.
It is understood the man and woman he was travelling with became bogged on Saturday while travelling in their 4WD near Junction Dam on the Stuart Creek Station, about 90 kilometres north of Roxby Downs.
The ABC reports that the alarm was raised on Sunday afternoon when family members were unable to contact the pair.
The man apparently rode off on a motorbike to seek help, leaving the woman with the four-wheel drive. When he did not return after several hours, the woman left the vehicle on foot.
Police said she was found by an aerial search team after having walked about 10 kilometres from her vehicle.
Conditions in the area have been hazardous in recent days, with temperatures rising above 40 degrees Celsius.
The woman was suffering from dehydration when she was found and remains in hospital tonight.
“Rescuers made their way to the woman who was taken to Roxby Downs Hospital where [she] is being treated for dehydration,” police said.
Family of the missing man have travelled to the area, and local station owners are also assisting local police with the search effort. A helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft are being used in the search which resumed at first light today.
The old and fast rule about never leaving your vehicle broken. Hope he is found alive and will learn from this mistake
And there we have another reason to make PLB’s mandatory for all outback and isolated travel. Will people ever learn, probably not. Apart from saving lives the cost is significantly less than a full blown search and rescue operation. And not forgetting the anguish of the family and loved ones of the missing people while the search is on.