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Merbein P-10 College students from Mildura get lost during Grampians school camp

Students visiting the Grampians have had a school camp to remember, after SES crews and the police air wing were called in to find them.

The Merbein P-10 students were in the area near The Pinnacle at the Grampians.
The Merbein P-10 students were in the area near The Pinnacle at the Grampians.

The Education Department has not said whether it will investigate how more than 20 secondary student became lost in the Grampians during a school camp.

The Merbein P-10 College students were with their teacher when the group of Year 7s became lost while walking near the Pinnacle at Halls Gap just after 5pm on Tuesday, March 9.

The police air wing spotted the group half an hour later and directing SES crews, who were able help the students make their way back to the carpark by 8pm.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said one female student was taken to Stawell Hospital in a stable condition, while the others were taken by bus for observation as a precaution.

The Stawell SES Unit helped police with the search, a request Deputy Controller Brody Stewart said was “definitely not uncommon”.

“We’ve had three or four (searches in the Grampians) in the last couple of weeks,” Mr Brody said.

“We do probably 60 or 70 a year.

“The area they were lost is a common place to stray off the track, it’s very easy to lose your way there.

“It happens all the time and we pretty much knew where they would be (lost from) when we got the call.”

SES crews assisted after students became lost in the Grampians. Picture: Stawell SES
SES crews assisted after students became lost in the Grampians. Picture: Stawell SES

Mr Brody praised the teacher who called emergency services the moment they lost the track and said her decision helped them locate the group before sunset.

“We were very lucky that the police air wing was actually in the area doing training so they could assist us.”

He said apart from some hunger – fixed with a post-rescue trip to McDonald’s – the children were in “good spirits” following their ordeal.

The rural college, located near Mildura, took to social media to confirm they were involved after reports started circulating.

“A group of our Year 7 students did become disorientated after taking a wrong turn while returning from the Pinnacle walk this afternoon,” they wrote.

“The teacher who was with the group the entire time contacted emergency services to ensure they could return safely to camp.”

An Education Department spokesperson said the safety of students was always “our top priority”.

“All students were medically assessed as a precaution and no students or staff were injured or harmed,” they said.

“The school camp has resumed, and the school is providing support to any students who need it.”

michael.difabrizio@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/mildura/merbein-p10-college-students-from-mildura-get-lost-during-grampians-school-camp/news-story/94e10fdaeee2295cfbda3e93b1ef39ee