Every year, significant numbers of travellers and bushwalkers have to be rescued from often perilous situations, often having ventured out without significant preparation or planning.
It seems that despite repeated warnings about the potential risks of heading out into Australia’s wilderness areas, a certain proportion of both drivers and walkers will continue to put themselves at risk.
This week, Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockcliff, described the decision of a group of hikers to head out on kunanyi/Mt Wellington amid a temperature that felt like -21.6C as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘stupid’.
The Guardian newspaper reports that a group of 13 hikers stuck on a hard-to-reach section of the mountain called emergency services at 4.15pm on Monday.
NT Police used a helicopoter to search for a misisng hiker on the Larapinta Trail. PIC: NT Police
The group set out on a day hike, having brought mobile phones but minimal food and water, and no equipment to spend the night in case of an emergency.
Tasmania police say that, on the way down, at 1,100m altitude, the group, assisted by City of Hobart personnel, met another five hikers who police say were similarly unprepared.
Insp Darren Latham told the Guardian that it was incredibly frustrating police were forced to repeat the same warnings – especially during a severe weather event.
“Bushwalkers should always prepare for the worst,” he said. “Our emergency service personnel often put their own lives at risk during rescues, so it is frustrating when the situation could have been avoided.”
Police Inspector, Kathy Bennet, told ABC Radio Hobart the bushwalkers were endangering lives and she was ‘gobsmacked’ that someone would think it was okay to go wandering up the mountain in such unfavourable conditions.
“That potentially put other lives at risk because we had our search and rescue people up at New Norfolk, with the anticipated issues we had up there [for flooding response] … and we would have to think about redeploying resources to get people,” she said. “If the road’s closed don’t walk up there, it’s as simple as that.”
At a media conference, the Premier described the situation as ‘simply ridiculous’.
“We cannot afford to have any resources diverted simply because of people’s stupidity of not heeding those warnings,” Mr Rockliff said.
Just a week ago, Northern Territory Police had to rescue two hikers in separate search and rescue operations on the Larapinta Trail near Alice Springs.
Police were notified of an overdue solo hiker near Section 3 of the Larapinta Trail. The partner of the 33-year-old man advised he was dropped off at Standley Chasm and was intending to hike to Millers Flat via an alternative southern route, not along the main trail.
The man subsequently ran out of water and became disorientated, and managed to communicate with his partner before his phone ran out of battery.
The search effort was conducted over an area of 134km2, involving police and NTES volunteers with assistance from Parks and Wildlife staff and the Larapinta Trail Trek Support team. A helicopter was also deployed to complete aerial taskings.
The helicopter eventually located the missing man and was able to land nearby to his location. A paramedic on board was able to provide initial first aid for dehydration, before he was conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital for further assessment. He has since been released.
Later that same day, police were notified by the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre of a second overdue – but better equipped – hiker along the Larapinta Trail.
The 40-year-old female had intended to solo walk from Simpsons Gap to Standley Chasm, however she ran out of water and became dehydrated. She activated her Personal Locater Beacon (PLB), and the Search and Rescue Section deployed a helicopter to her location, about five kilometres northeast of Standley Chasm.
She was mildly dehydrated but did not require medical attention.
The message to grey nomads and others heading into remote country area, either on foot or in a vehicle, is to be prepared and to make sensible decisions … and to be ready for the unexpected,
Over Easter this year, for example, a group of campers caught out by rapidly rising floodwaters at a remote Queensland campsite 40 kilometres south-east of Mount Isa – an area with no mobile reception – were able to summon help by using the Emergency SOS function on their iPhone.
Senior Sergeant Magnus told the ABC at the time that an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) were among the top devices for contacting emergency services.
“They send out signals which are relayed to a number of emergency services,” he said. “We’re given your latitude and longitude so we can go and find out what’s happening.”
Other emergency technologies included the SOS satellite function on newer smart phone models and some wearable devices, and satellite phones or ‘satphones’.
“However, a lot of these require a subscription that you must maintain,” Senior Sergeant Magnus told the ABC. “It is important to note that if you are text messaging emergency services [using a phone with an SOS satellite function], you must provide your exact location.”
Senior Sergeant Magnus said there was a common misconception among travellers that emergency services were contactable without reception.
“Parts of rural Queensland are a long way from anywhere,” he said. “We’ve had people waiting days and days for help to arrive because they haven’t had the failsafe technology to contact emergency services.”
But, while technology can be a lifesaver in the Outback, so can other more basic measures.
“Always tell people where you are going and how long you should take to get there,” Senior Sergeant Magnus told the ABC. “Ensure you have ample food and water supplies to last you if you do get stuck and if you get into trouble, stay where you are … basic safety measures like this save lives.”
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
They should be required to make a sizeable donation toward the cost of rescue. Unless a medical emergency is the cause for rescue.
Idiots will be idiots,
Tasmania is beautiful, but its climate can be unforgiving, we have hiked many a trail there, and even on a day walk we always packed thermal wear, a hiking tent and gas cooker. Being prepared and having the right equipment no matter where you are in Australia is a must.
Tasmanian weather can change from warm and sunny to a snow storm in a few hours. I came across a moron walking up to the summit of Cradle Mountain carrying a carton of beer and wearing thongs, another on the overland track wearing sneakers and a parker jacket, it was raining and freezing cold, he was soaked inside and out, but refused to quit and turn around. Fools like this will then cry blue murder if not rescued. I agree they should be sent a bill.
I’m not sure making them pay would be a good idea as it would likely make some people not call for help. I’d like to see them made to do community service so they forfeit their own time.