Student, teacher rescued in Dunkeld bushland after going missing on school camp hike
A school camp’s group hike has gone horribly wrong after a teen and his teacher became lost in dense terrain, forcing the pair to endure a chilly night out in the elements.
Victoria
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A schoolboy and his teacher have spent a chilly night out in the wilderness after the pair went missing when a school camp activity in Dunkeld went awry.
The teen, 13, wandered down an unfamiliar path shortly after the group of students and teachers set out for an evening trek about 9pm on Wednesday.
Quickly becoming disoriented, the boy attempted to find a fence line to locate the nearest track however, ended up further losing his bearings.
A teacher who managed to locate the boy by following the sound of his voice also became stranded alongside the pupil, forced to brave the elements as they awaited rescue.
‘Feels like’ temperatures in Dunkled, about three hours west of Melbourne, dipped from about 9.7C down to a crisp 4.5C by 2.30am, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Local police were notified of the pair’s disappearance just before midnight, before Victoria Police’s Air Wing was called to assist with the search.
The pair, who managed to escape injury, were located by the Air Wing about 3.30am, bringing to a close their more than 7-hour ordeal.
Radar vision from inside the rescue helicopter captured the moment the relieved pair were located, waving their arms in an attempt to flag down the crew before being hoisted to safety.
Victoria Police Air Wing Inspector Kelly Walker credited the pair for handling the undoubtedly stressful situation with composure.
“Both the man and the boy were very grateful when they saw the police helicopter hovering above them,” she said.
“Although unfortunate they got lost, sticking together was the right thing to do.
“Doing so made it easier for us to find them and bring them to safety.
“It’s a good day for the Air Wing when we’re able to support our regional colleagues and community.”
The pair were assessed by paramedics as a precaution.
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