Couple walked 58km from bogged car

A COUPLE stranded by flood water walked for 58km towards Kintore until an aerial search by police found the pair on a rural track

Flooding at Ellery Creek in Central Australia. Picture: Facebook

A COUPLE stranded by flood water walked for 58km towards Kintore until an aerial search by police found the pair on a rural track.

The 30-year-old man and 27-year-old woman were with six family members who became bogged on the muddy roads heading towards the Kintore township three days ago.

The group were travelling 180km from Western Australian community Kiwirrkurra to Kintore when they failed to arrive.

Four of the group remained with the bogged cars and were rescued by helicopter on Tuesday afternoon.

Territory Duty Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said the pair were dehydrated and taken to Kintore Health Clinic to be assessed.

“Two adults, a 30-year-old male and a 27-year-old female had left and walked ahead heading towards Kintore,” he said.

“ We didn’t locate them (Tuesdya), but we’re very pleased that (Wednesday) just after 11am we managed to locate those people in a very dehydrated state.

“They managed to walk 58km which is quite extraordinary in those conditions.”

He said initial reports were made to police of an infant child travelling with the group.

The child however, did not travel with the group and remained in the community.

Supt Muldoon said the search was made more difficult because the pair were mobile.

He said the duo were found only 5km from the township.

“They walked along a small access track off the main road which made our efforts a little bit more difficult.”

Supt Muldoon said 53 people remained in the evacuation centre as homes in Kintore were assessed by authorities.

He said it would take several days before they would be allowed to return home.