Melbourne hiker thankful for Northern Territory Emergency Services after rescue from the Larapinta Trail

A Victorian hiker has shared his words of warning after being rescued from the Larapinta Trail. And police have praised the action that may have saved his life.

A MELBOURNE hiker has said that he is thankful to the Northern Territory Emergency Services for rescuing him at the Larapinta Trail.

58-year-old Devan Pillay from Melbourne said that there are no words to describe how thankful he is to the police and paramedics who cared for him while a helicopter was chartered to rescue the hiker.

Despite training to hike the Larapinta Trail with 3 gym sessions a week and a healthy diet, Mr Pillay called for emergency services to rescue him after feeling too hot and weak to complete the trek.

Mr Pillay said that the Emergency Services worked hard to reach his location.

“There are no words for how thankful I am,” he said.

“I wish I could thank each person individually.

“It was amazing and I am absolutely grateful to them for rescuing me.”

Despite having to call for emergency services for being unable to complete the track, Mr Pillay has said that he would attempt the trip again eventually.

“I would do it again but during June or July when the weather is much easier to handle,” he said.

“I trained for this, I was in the gym 3 times a week and I did a lot of walking to prepare for this.”

The hiker activated his emergency beacon at 4:40pm after multiple attempts to finish the Larapinta Trail but he eventually collapsed due to feeling weak, hot and drowsy.

Emergency Services arrived promptly while Mr Pillay waited in an exhausted state in his tent.

As the Run Larapinta Stage Race fastly approaches and multiple rescues at the Larapinta Trail by Northern Territory Emergency Services are reported, preparedness has become a hot topic.

Northern Territory police have said many who take long hikes in The Red Centre are not prepared enough, and that Mr Pillay’s preparedness by bringing an emergency beacon may have saved his life.