‘Absolutely freezing’: Rental car mishap leaves Queenslander braving Tasmanian storm

Adam O’Keefe was told to remain in his rental car with his seatbelt fastened after the vehicle broke down, but after five hours with no help, the weather started to turn. HOW HE GOT THROUGH >

Adam O'Keefe's vehicle being towed to safety by Cradle Mountain Hotel staff.

A Queensland man says he was left stranded in the freezing cold when the hire car he was driving broke down near Cradle Mountain, but thanks to the kindness of strangers he was able to get through the night.

Adam O’Keefe said he was he was travelling toward Cradle Mountain when the car, owned by rental company, SIXT went stopped working.

“The car completely shut down,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“I contacted the roadside assistance number with the car company … They couldn’t work out where I was.”

Adam O'Keefe at the Cradle Mountain Hotel.

Mr O’Keefe said he was told to remain in the vehicle with his seatbelt fastened and hazard lights on.

“Cars were going past, the whole vehicle was rocking, I couldn’t get off the road because there’s ditches on either side, the drain was so steep,” he said.

He said someone from roadside assistance eventually found him, but further assistance was required and Mr O’Keefe was left alone again.

“It was a really serious situation I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t get anyone to help,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“I tried to think of it as an adventure to begin with, I couldn’t get out of the vehicle because it was so cold … It was absolutely freezing.

“It was daunting, I watched that storm rollover, it was black, it rolled right over the top of me … You couldn’t see 50 metres in front of you.”

Mr O’Keefe said he’d expected to be in his vehicle all night, but he received an unexpected helping hand.

“I’d been there for five or six hours, it was starting to get cold … Some staff were coming out of the Cradle Mountain Hotel, they saw my hazard lights and said ‘hey are you okay’?” he said.

“In the sleet and rain, they hitched the vehicle and towed it off the main highway and onto the carpark of the Cradle Mountain Hotel.

“They let me come in and sit by the fire all night, offered me hot chocolate and made sure I was warm.

“They tried to find me a room, they were fully booked.”

The Cradle Mountain Hotel. Pic: Adam O'Keefe.

Mr O’Keefe shuddered to think how he would have coped without the assistance.

“I was in a dangerous situation I would have froze,” he said.

“Because of the staff at the Cradle Mountain Hotel, I was able to be safe and warm.

“I’m really really grateful to them, I wouldn’t be safe if it weren’t for them.”

Mr O’Keefe said the situation was not sort out until around noon on Sunday.

SIXT was contacted for comment.

Originally published as ‘Absolutely freezing’: Rental car mishap leaves Queenslander braving Tasmanian storm