Police send out plea to bushwalkers after chaotic day of rescuing stranded people

It was a busy Saturday for police with three separate rescue missions across Tasmania’s wilderness. In response, bushwalkers have been told what they can do to remain safe.

A bushwalker rescue operation at Ironbound Range at the Southwest National Park. Picture: Supplied.

It was a busy 24-hour period for police on Saturday, who had to rescue three bushwalkers.

The first rescue took place at the Western Arthur Range, where a woman was suffering a medical episode and had to be airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment.

The next call for help came from a walker in his 50s who had become separated from his two companions at the Ironbound Range in the Southwest National Park.

Tasmania Police Senior Senior Constable Callum Herbert

“It appears that one of the party, whilst walking up the Ironbound Range, has dropped off the back of the group and become lost in the wilderness down there,” Tasmania Police Senior Senior Constable Callum Herbert said.

“He’s come to a decision point on the track and has actually separated from the track and spent a few hours bush-bashing down to regain the track.

“So whilst he was lost in the wilderness, he’s done everything right and regained the track about the same time we had members of our search party looking for him.

“He was escorted back up to the high camp at the Ironbound Range, reunited with his walking party, and they’ve continued their walk; no one’s been injured, just lost a few hours.”

Then, two interstate tourists needed rescuing at Cradle Mountain in the late hours of Saturday.

“They were engaged in a traverse of Cradle Mountain doing rock climbing,” Senior Constable Herbert said.

“They’ve been adequately equipped for rock climbing during the day – but unfortunately – time has got away from them, and they’ve found themselves up on Cradle Mountain on the face itself of a night time.”

The pair were winched off the side of the mountain by a Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

DAILY TELEGRAPH. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter patrols beaches at The Entrance in the search for a missing 11 year old boy swept out to sea last night while wading across the channel at The Entrance on the Central Coast. Monday 04/11/2024. Picture by Max Mason-Hubers

Senior Constable Herbert said police were kept on their toes on Saturday.

“It’s certainly a busy time of year for us; three in a day is unusual, but we certainly get it this time of year.”

He also wanted bushwalkers to do all they could to stay safe.

“Plan your trip out and be prepared that your day trip may turn into an overnight trip, especially if you’re going into the wilderness,” Senior Constable Herbert said.

“And that means having a suitably charged mobile phone, torches, appropriate clothing and footwear.

“I can’t encourage people enough to research where they’re going and actually have a paper map with them; you can’t rely on mobile phones having service to tell you where you are all the time.”

However, regarding the trio of rescues, Senior Constable Herbert said he believed those bushwalkers were prepared.

“Although they had to call for emergency services, they’ve done that using the recognised safety devices – being personal locator beacons on the two-way satellite interface where we can actually talk with people in distress.

“You can imagine if you’re lost in the wilderness, a message from a rescuer saying ‘we’re on our way’ can be very heartfelt or meaningful at that time of need.”