A woman’s body has been found in the Northern Territory’s East MacDonnell Ranges. It is believed to be that of German tourist Gisela Thor, 73. Yesterday, the body of her husband, Wilfred, 76, was found eight kilometres away from where the couple had left their hired car at the Trephina Gorge campground.
It is believed that the couple went on a bushwalk at the gorge on Friday but never returned. Police were immediately concerned for their welfare due to the searing temperatures, the couple’s advanced age, and the fact that necessary medication had been found in their hotel room.
The couple’s disappearance sparked a massive search involving a helicopter, quad bikes, police dogs, and numerous police officers, SES personnel, and park rangers.
It is understood the couple arrived in Australia at the start of the month and hired a car from the Alice Springs airport last Thursday, before driving the 70 kilometres to Trephina Gorge the next day.
The tragedy has sharpened the debate about the relatively poor phone coverage in some popular, but remote, areas.
Northern Territory Tourism Minister Lauren Moss told the ABC that things had to improve.
“Emergency phones in remote areas is something that I definitely need to look at, as the responsible minister, in terms of what’s available and how we can grow that network,” she said.
Ms Moss said she would also look at improving access and coverage of the Territory’s broader network.
Last year, an 86-year-old bushwalker got lost in Trephina Gorge and was rescued after spending a night in the elements.
· Comment below
Straight from a European winter to the height of Australias hottest month, do you wonder why they died. Europeans need to warned of the danger of an Aussie summer. Hire Car companies should have brochures for travellers, detailing these risks.Maybe the N.T. Gov, could print a brochure
We don’t need phones everywhere, just tell tourists of the dangers. Give them a brochure with all the info, we have been saying this for 30 years?.