Following the rescue of a family stranded in Munga-Thirri National Park, formerly the Simpson Desert, people travelling to remote Outback locations are again being urged to be properly prepared for their adventures.
The family from New South Wales had been stuck since last week when their 4WD broke down near Poeppel Corner, where the South Australian-Queensland-Northern Territory borders meet.
The ABC reports the group, that was travelling with friends, notified police using a satellite phone.
Birdsville Police Senior Constable Stephan Pursell told the ABC that the car’s frame had bent at the chassis while towing a trailer, probably while driving through rough terrain.
The Simpson Desert. PIC: Rachel Claire / Pexels
Poor weather due to Cyclone Ilsa in WA and rising floodwaters meant the rescue mission was delayed for several days, but police and park rangers were eventually able to travel by road to evacuate the family.
The two adults and young children are avid campers and said they were well prepared for the desert, and could have survived another week if required.
Senior Constable Pursell told the ABC the family was in high spirits and very grateful for the help.
“They had a coffee machine and an air fryer, so they were more than prepared — the kids were even playing games on the iPads,” he said. “He said he could have lasted quite a few more days but I think his wife was a little different — she wanted to get out.”
The family’s camper trailer was towed by friends to a nearby outstation, but their car had to be abandoned.
Senior Constable Pursell is calling on travellers to be prepared and to weigh their vehicles before departing.
“A satellite phone is probably your best friend out here because we can talk to you directly,” he told the ABC. “Rescue operations are an issue because it costs insurance, our time, and the safety of people … weighing your vehicle could be the difference between getting stuck or not.”
The ABC reports that the rescue operation is the second of its kind so far this year for Birdsville police. In January, a man was rescued from the same location after his car became bogged.
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Coffee machine and Air Fryer??? You must be kidding!!!! Just didn’t have the main item. They forgot
to take a good dose of common sense before leaving. Once again the authorities have to come to the rescue. I hope they get a large rescue bill. To bend the chassis towing what ever, tells me they did not prepare their vehicle / camper to well. If you are going to travel in the outback, you must
have the essentials, and that dose not include a coffee machine and air dry.
Well said and I completely agree. This an ongoing problem with the new brand of vehicle and driver we see too often getting into trouble.
They’re everywhere, more money than brains.
all the gear and no idear,,,?
I think there is a great song in that. “All the gear and no idea”.
Coffee machine and Air Fryer, one can only wonder what else was in that trailer that bent the chassis of their vehicle.
Stop pontificating. Just takes one unseen bump or bit of extra speed to cause that sort of damage in almost any vehicle. We came across a Ute in the Simpson with similar damage and he wasn’t anywhere close to overloaded.
Where the problem does lay perhaps, is people insisting on towing trailers in dune country. Just ban them and that would stop a lot of breakdowns and abandoned equipment.
The Birdsville Roadhouse usually has a selection vehicles, mainly twin cab utes, bent like bananas, after towing trailers across the Simpson. The land managers ask you not to tow but the drivers know better.
I always try to weigh all my axles at the start of a trip to be sure that I am within my legal and sensible limits.
I sometimes wonder if people know how to pack a Ute with a canopy etc. I have seen many times heavy items such as fridges, generators etc at the back of the tray well behind the rear axle. Heavy items at the front of the tray either in front or over the rear axle not only give the vehicle more stability but decrease the risk of damaging the chassis
You’re right, it is not just what you carry, but where and how you carry it. Unfortunately, that is not something that the average person is aware of nor considers.
The most common reason for bent chassis is the installation of rear airbags on an unfortified chassis (axle mt point) such as most o/s utes these days. We saw three bent Mitzi utes in Kununnurra after we traversed the Gibb Rd. all with airbags and rear slideons.
Many year ago whilst working and travelling even up in the Gulf it always amazed me why people would come into remote rough Australian conditions with vehicles not suited for this sort of travel.
I always ran steel wheels or split rims in the Land rover days but never the fancy wheel and tyre you see on vehicles now days. Also the vehicles are made from steel that is not fir for purpose no matter what the adds say. I have seen travellers with so much unnecessary crap on board that it make you wonder whey are they out there. Any way my take on it is you pay if you go out to play unprepared on all fronts. Some men as well as women talk one another into travelling where they should not be.
This puts them in harms way for others to get them out.
Travel to your limitations and safety first.
I have traveled the Simpson desert a few times, have always taken food and water to last another 7 days in case off emergency, I put the cruiser over the weigh bridge each time to make sure I am not over the rear axle limit, sat phone is a must have along with a EPRP, good preparation makes for a successful and safe trip.
Not sure why they contacted the police. From their position Birdsville handles the recovery of vehicles with their recovery trucks. If their friends could tow their camper out then the tracks were ok for recovery. Sounds like they were trying to save money on the recovery by trying to get the police involved.
Not any more I was told. Business sold and recovery vehicle gone. Nearest recovery would be Alice Springs.