The man was medically assessed after spending 12 hours lost. PIC: NT Police
A 70-year-old man has been successfully located after spending 12 hours missing in Nitmiluk National Park near the NT town of Katherine.
The Northern Territory Police Force received a report late in Friday night that the man, a foreign national, hadn’t returned to his accommodation.
With concerns over his welfare growing, a search by Parks and wildlife rangers was unable to find the man overnight.
The NT News reports that NT Police and Park Rangers closed down all hiking and mountain bike trials at the Gorge Sector of Nitmiluk National Park on Saturday morning as the search ramped up.
The man was eventually spotted on the ground by a helicopter flying overhead.
He was transported to Katherine Regional Hospital for medical assessment.
“Police are relieved by this search operation’s positive outcome and would like to thank members from NT Emergency Service and Parks and Wildlife rangers who also assisted with the operation,” Sergeant Chris Grotherr said.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
We have been “lost” twice once in country Victoria and the other when we went off the “end” of a walking track near Cobbold Gorge. What got us back on track was an app we use called “Map my walk”. Before you start walking set the app going and as you walk it draws a snail trail on a map on your screen. It has saved us a couple of times.
So how much a month does this cost you?
Think also carry emergency beacon back up?
Always comes in handy
You shouldn’t bushwalking alone and most ranger stations have emergency personal beacons for hire/deposit. These save the emergency services mounting major searches
Even young hikers can have situations e.g. broken angle, snake bite etc where someone cannot move or needs urgent rescuing. In this age of technology inexpensive EPIRBS are affordable and should be in a grey nomads equipment.
When I was exploring Carnarvon NP at age 75 on my own in August I ran out of time and could not see the return track to make my way back, so after missing my step while crossing the river, I decided the best option was to wait until morning so I could see where I was going. I slept on the side of the track and after a snack when I woke up started heading back down the track. In the meantime my wife had notified the ranger that I had not returned and he organised the Search and Rescue to find me. Half way down the track I met the Search and Rescue team and advised that I was not lost, but just ran out of daylight.
Yes. Due to poor markings and signage.