Mother and son, 13, rescued by emergency services after becoming lost near Crystal Cascades

Police have issued a reminder for hikers to plan for the worst when they set off along Far North Queensland trails after a lost mother and son were located and rescued from dense bushland.

A mother and her 13-year-old son became lost while hiking near Fairy Falls, Redlynch, on Wednesday APril 16, 2024.

A mum and her teenage son who became lost while hiking near Fairy Falls at Crystal Cascades dropped a location pin from their mobile phone so emergency services could find them.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland Police Service said the woman and her 13-year-old son became lost in dense bushland around 3pm on Wednesday and managed to use a mobile phone to contact emergency services.

They were able to drop a location pin to help rescuers locate them some three hours later.

A lost mother and son dropped a pin from their mobile phone to help emergency services locate them when they became lost in bushland near Fairy Falls.

“SES crews together with local police commenced the trek into bushland and located the pair at about 6pm, before making the trek out of bushland and arriving back at the carpark at about 8.15pm,” the spokeswoman said.

“Thankfully all returned safely.”

Police are encouraging hikers to consider taking a personal EPIRB with them in Far North Queensland, where mobile reception can be patchy.

Local police have reminded people bushwalking in the far north to “plan and prepare”, ensuring they have suitable clothing, ample food and water, and have communicated their route and expected return time to someone.

She said hikers should ensure they have a communication device and consider carrying a personal EPIRB because mobile phone reception can be intermittent on most Far North Queensland hiking trails.

Originally published as Mother and son, 13, rescued by emergency services after becoming lost near Crystal Cascades