How police found travellers who went missing in SA outback between Oodnadatta and Finke

Police have revealed the delicate and complicated operation to rescue four stranded travellers in the SA outback before it was too late.

One of the police officers who helped rescue a trapped group of four from the South Australian outback has lifted the lid on the delicate STAR Force operation.

The group, which included a six-year-old boy and are believed to be all related, went missing after trying to drive through floodwaters between South Australia’s Oodnadatta and Finke in the Northern Territory.

People stranded near Oodnadatta wave to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) aircraft. Picture: Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)

Inspector Josh Heinze from the SA Police Far North Local Service told FIVEaa the extensive search was made difficult by recent rain.

“The first challenge was the area that we knew that they were travelling between Oodnadatta and Feinke is about 500km, so that’s a big area to search, coupled by all the rain we’d had in the days leading up to it.

“We had no way of getting vehicles out to that location as the tracks were closed, so it became an aerial-only search for us.”

He revealed a Challenger jet aircraft, operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, spotted the group, dropping off food supplies, water and a satellite phone.

Police were then able to stay in touch with the group, who abandoned their Holden Captiva in search of rescue crews.

The South Australia police rescue helicopter lands next to people stranded near Oodnadatta. Picture: Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)

The group were retrieved by the police helicopter, with no one injured after the three-day ordeal.

One of the rescued travellers, Bridget Doolan, told 9News they camped in the car for two days before trying to find help by foot.

One of the rescued people from the mid north, Bridget Doolan. Picture: 9NEWS

Inspector Heinze said the two-day search highlighted the importance of staying with your vehicle.

“Once you venture not too far out of those communities, it’s pretty much satellite phone only.

“Stay with your car as it provides you some shelter, unless your car is going to create more danger for you.

“People are a lot harder to detect from the air, whereas your car is a lot more identifiable.”

Originally published as How police found travellers who went missing in SA outback between Oodnadatta and Finke