‘They were very generous and kind and I want to give a big shout out to them,’ bushwalker Pip Cole says of police

After a two-night ordeal stuck in wild weather in Tasmania’s southwest, a group of seven bushwalkers from Melbourne were saved by the quick response of police rescuers.

Two of the bushwalkers make their way to the Westpac chopper

A Victorian teacher has described as “absolute legends” the police who rescued her and six friends from the southwest after they were stranded by a rising river and left without food or water.

Pip Cole, 30, of Melbourne said she was the least experienced of the group of three women and four men experienced bushwalkers who set off on Friday at Lake Rhona hoping to return on Saturday afternoon.

“We checked the weather and we were able to cross it comfortably but when we returned the Gordon River was completely flooded.

“We were pretty cool, calm and collected.

“I was able to use the SOS satellite on my mobile and police responded really efficiently.

“We had no food or fresh water on the second night as we hadn’t anticipated the longer stay so we filled up our bottles with river water using aqua (water purification) tabs.”

As heavy rain fell overnight, the seven, aged in their 30s, bunkered down for the night.

Ms Cole said the weather was too bad for a helicopter on Saturday night but it arrived at 6.30am on Sunday.

“They were absolute legends, they were so accommodating and very friendly,” she said.

“They landed nearby and walked to us and we then walked about 10 minutes to the helicopter which took us to Strathgordon and then the police drove us to the Lake Rhona carpark to our car.

“They were very generous and kind and I want to give a big shout out to them.

“It was a very seamless experience.”

The group returned to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.

After the rescue, Acting Inspector Robert Bessell, advised bushwalkers on precautions to take when heading out.

“It’s important for everyone considering bushwalking to remember to be prepared with up-to-date equipment, appropriate clothing and adequate supplies,” he said.

He urged people to carry a fully charged mobile phone, to research the intended trip, check weather forecasts and download the Emergency+ application.

Meanwhile, a seriously injured climber was rescued on Saturday afternoon in a difficult and lengthy police and ambulance helicopter operation on South Bruny Island.

Search and rescue officers rescued the man, aged in his 30s, from the cliff at East Cloudy Head overnight using ropes after he fell around 15m sustaining serious injuries.

Bad weather meant the ambulance rescue helicopter and the police Westpac rescue helicopter were unable to winch the man to safety, but search and rescue officers and a medical team were winched in to stabilise the man.

Police said about four hours later, the weather abated to allow the ambulance rescue helicopter to winch the man to safety.

The rescue team members were later flown from the area.

The injured man was flown to hospital in Melbourne for treatment.

Injured walker saved

A seriously injured climber has been rescued in a difficult and lengthy police and ambulance helicopter operation on South Bruny Island – the second rescue in the state in 24 hours.

Search and rescue officers rescued the man, aged in his 30s, from the cliff at East Cloudy Head overnight using ropes after he fell around 15m sustaining serious injuries.

Bad weather meant the ambulance rescue helicopter and the police Westpac rescue helicopter were unable to winch the man to safety.

Emergency services rescued an injured climber from East Cloudy Head, South Bruny Island overnight. Picture: Tasmania Police

However, search and rescue officers and a medical team were winched in to stabilise the man.

Police said about four hours later, the weather abated to allow the ambulance rescue helicopter to winch the man to safety.

The rescue team members were later airlifted from the area.

The injured man has been flown to hospital in Melbourne for treatment.

Stranded Victorian bushwalkers winched to safety

January 28, 11am

A group of seven Victorian bushwalkers has been flown from Tasmania’s southwest after being stranded by rising water levels.

Tasmania Police acting inspector Robert Bessell said a search and rescue operation had “safely extracted” the group of stranded bushwalkers from the Lake Rhona area in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.

“Search and rescue crews rescued the group from the Lake Rhona area this morning after they became stranded yesterday afternoon due to rising water levels,” he said.

Lake Rhona and Denison Range after the 2019 bushfires at Southwest National Park. Picture – LUKE TSCHARKE / PAR AVION

“The group of bushwalkers ranging in age from early to mid-thirties from Victoria, commenced a walk in the area on Saturday and raised the alarm via a satellite emergency call about 5pm yesterday.

“The group was located by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter (which) was able to land in the area to safely remove the group about 8.20am this morning.

“It’s important for everyone considering bushwalking to remember to be prepared with up-to-date equipment, appropriate clothing and adequate supplies.”

Police provided tips for bushwalkers including that they ensure they carried a fully charged mobile phone.

The tips included researching the intended trip and checking weather forecasts and to download the Emergency+ application.

Originally published as ‘They were very generous and kind and I want to give a big shout out to them,’ bushwalker Pip Cole says of police