Couple escape unscathed after 4WD bursts into flames in Outback Western Australia

A couple’s smart thinking under serious pressure has saved their lives throughout a 4WD fire deep in the outback.

A couple has escaped from a nightmarish situation while trekking through the Western Australian Outback — with a smart on-the-spot decision saving their lives after their 4WD burst into flames.

The husband and wife were driving along the Talawana Track, which runs for about 596km through the Western Australian desert.

4WD enthusiasts describe the Talawana as one of the toughest drives in Australia. Its isolation forces travellers to be completely self-sufficient with fuel, water and food supplies for days on end.

The couple’s vehicle suddenly caught fire at around 10.30am on Monday, while they were roughly 120km deep along the track.

The husband and wife were driving along the Talawana Track, which runs for about 596 kilometres through the Western Australian desert.

A couple has escaped from a nightmarish situation while trekking through the Western Australian outback — with a smart on-the-spot decision saving their lives after their 4WD burst into flames. Source: WA Police

The pair luckily had a satellite phone and quickly to retrieved it from their deteriorating car. The quickfire decision is what authorities say may have saved their lives, with help several hours away in all directions in the Gibson Desert.

A helicopter was dispatched early on Tuesday to retrieve the couple, with authorities checking in on them periodically via their satphone, which was kept alive with a portable battery they were carrying.

They pair were in good health after being retrieved around 9am.

The couple’s vehicle suddenly caught fire around 10:30 am on Monday, while they were driving roughly 120 kilometres deep along the Talawana Track.

A helicopter was dispatched early on Tuesday to retrieve the couple, with authorities checking in on them periodically via their satphone, which was kept alive with a portable battery they were carrying.

A WA Police spokesperson said the couple reacted almost perfectly to the crisis scenario, ensuring the safety of the satphone was their highest priority as their belongings went up in flames.

“We encourage anyone travelling in regional and remote areas to carry safety equipment with them, particularly Personal Locator Beacons, or PLBs, or other equipment such as satellite phones to help alert authorities to emergency situations,” the spokesperson said.