A bushwalker has been found more than 12 hours after he went missing in the Olney State Forest, about 24 kilometres west of Morisset in NSW.
Police were called after the 52-year-old man became separated from a family member while bushwalking and failed to return to his site at The Basin Campground.
A command post was established at The Basin Campground, and a multi-agency coordinated land and air search commenced by Hunter Valley Police District, with the assistance of PolAir, Police Rescue, NSW SES, NSW Ambulance, NSW RFS, and VRA.
PolAir eventually located the missing bushwalker yesterday morning and he was winched up to the aircraft and flown to George Downes Drive at Bucketty where he was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
SES workers help in the search for a missing bushwalker. PIC: SES NSW
The man was treated for mild hypothermia, dehydration and abrasions, before being taken to Gosford Hospital for further assessment.
Unfortunately, these sorts of search and rescue operations have become all too common.
Earlier this year, after a 71-year-old bushwalker was rescued in in the NSW Blue Mountains, emergency personnel praised the man for carrying a personal locator beacon (PLB).
NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue Deputy Unit Commander, Caro Ryan OAM, said at the time the device had been critical in helping find the man.
“We’d like to remind anyone else heading out in the bush to think before you ‘TREK’. That includes taking enough water, food, equipment and medical supplies, registering your trip, carrying an emergency personal locator beacon and keeping to your planned route,” she said. “If you do happen to find yourself lost in the bush, some tips for setting off your beacon include not waiting until it is getting dark … if you set off your Beacon early, there is enough daylight for rescuers to come and get you.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says that, across the country, land-based search and rescue (SAR) incidents are increasing in frequency and complexity … due in part to more people venturing into unfamiliar environments.
In 2025-26, AMSA responded to 832 land-based SAR incidents, and this figure doesn’t include incidents which police may have responded to without AMSA involvement.
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Having carried our PLB for some years we realised the battery/service was out of date. (June 2025) Imagine our disappointment to find out that 6 months over end date and it can no longer be serviced. We are expected to fully replace it. So, keep an eye on the use by date.
When our PLB was getting close to it’s expiry date we looked at getting it serviced. The cost was very little less than the cost of buying new, & buying new meant we could now get one with all the same specs but physically much smaller.
I found the cost the same way ,just buy new one spot on with reply
You would think that replacing the battery would be way cheaper than buying a new one but it isn’t. Reckon it’s the manufacturers wanting us to buy their new one which is more profitable than a battery replacement.
Spot on .found better to buy new one too much running around to dealership to get new battery fitted
Find any stream…and keep following it downstream. That always leads to civilization.
True but sometimes the vegetation near the stream is very dense and impassable. We once considered swimming down the stream, but found our way out to a road. Only one of our group had a waterproof bag for her phone ♂️ so swimming was a deterrent.