Nine bushwalkers who were lost in the Blue Mountains have been rescued overnight in two separate operations.
Five teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, were assisted out of the bush and treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries at about 10.30pm. Emergency services were called to Wentworth Falls following reports the group had become lost while bushwalking at about 6.30pm.
Wentworth Falls is one of the most picturesque landscapes in the Blue Mountains and popular with bushwalkers.Credit: Dean Sewell
A second multi-agency search began just before 7pm in bushland near Beauchamp Falls, Blackheath, after reports four men, aged in their 20s, had also become lost while bushwalking.
The group activated a personal locator beacon, which helped a NSW Police helicopter locate them swiftly.
The men were walked out of the bush just before midnight.
Inspector Steven Vuletas said as the weather warms up and more people get out into nature, it is important for bushwalkers to have a communication plan.
NSW Police have launched an upgrade to their emergency dispatch system, called BluLink.Credit: NSW Police
“No matter how experienced a bushwalker may be, it is imperative that they always have with them all the appropriate safety equipment including suitable clothing, food, water, and communication devices,” Vuletas said.
“It is also important to let someone know your intended route, what tracks you are taking and your estimated return time. If there is any change to the original plan, then tell someone.
“Please register your trip with the appropriate agency, such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and think before you trek – know the weather conditions, know your physical abilities, and plan your route and stick to it.”
These rescues preceded the launch of an improved emergency dispatch platform called BluLink that connects the community directly to police and first responders in emergencies.
The technology allows people to provide police with GPS coordinates, live video streaming, digital media uploads, and text messages via a link sent to them from triple-zero (000) dispatchers.
The BluLink system does not run on an app. All people need to do is reply to a link sent to their mobile phone.Credit: NSW Police
BluLink has been used to aid recent investigations, including the Bondi Junction stabbing incident earlier this year, and live streaming has beamed more than 700 events back to emergency operators. The technology has also helped locate more than 100 missing people and more than 60 lost bushwalkers since it began being used in February 2023.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the state-wide rollout of BluLink gives officers instant, real-time access to unfolding emergencies.
“Police rely on members of the community to accurately describe an incident, so they know what they’re dealing with and how they need to respond; BluLink gives them unrivalled access to a scene before they’ve even arrived,” Catley said.
“On average, police receive more than 1500 emergency calls for assistance every day; this technology will help triage and respond to incidents more effectively than ever before.”
Assistant Commissioner Stacey Maloney said BluLink will enhance policing responses. “BluLink is expected to better assist the public and save time and resources across every police command for both front-line and specialist areas,” Maloney said.
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