Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

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Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Wed 07 Oct, 2015 7:06 am

After asking for the topic to be re opened on a couple of occasions over the past few months there has been two more rescues. :?

As the first topic is still locked I have started another topic.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Wed 07 Oct, 2015 7:18 am

The Westpac helicopter was deployed to Frenchmans Cap to extract an injured walker. The 20 year old woman from Lillidale had been walking towards Lake Vera when she fell and deeply lacerated her arm, police said. The woman was treated at the scene by the ambulance paramedic and flown to Hobart in a satisfactory condition.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Wed 07 Oct, 2015 7:30 am

This one was in the Advocate 20th of September.
A rescue is underway at Cradle Mountain as emergency services attend to an ill bushwalker. The Westpac Rescue helicopter is heading to the Lake Rodway track at Cradle Mountain to retrieve the man.
The job was called in yesterday afternoon at 4.0 pm
Search and rescue officers reached the man last night at around 10pm and camped in the area overnight.
The age or condition of the male is unknown.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Nuts » Thu 08 Oct, 2015 7:07 am

Thanks OLM, I often check in here first for a round up of cues to relevant news and happenings and your topic was missed, especially with the apparent demise of the online reports from TART, reliance on ad-hoc news and reportage.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Taurë-rana » Mon 12 Oct, 2015 12:00 pm

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been tasked to search for a missing walker after a rescue beacon was activated today.
The beacon was activated and confirmed to be with a walker on the West Coast in the Strahan area but an exact location has yet to be determined.
Search and Rescue are on their way to the location now to try and find the missing walker.
It has been confirmed the beacon is with a person and not a discarded beacon, after resources were deployed yesterday to the Deloraine Refuse Disposal Site.
Injuries or the condition of the walker are not known at this stage.

Posted on the Advocate FB page at about 12 noon, but on their website at midnight.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby pazzar » Mon 12 Oct, 2015 4:28 pm

Taurë-rana wrote:The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been tasked to search for a missing walker after a rescue beacon was activated today.
The beacon was activated and confirmed to be with a walker on the West Coast in the Strahan area but an exact location has yet to be determined.
Search and Rescue are on their way to the location now to try and find the missing walker.
It has been confirmed the beacon is with a person and not a discarded beacon, after resources were deployed yesterday to the Deloraine Refuse Disposal Site.
Injuries or the condition of the walker are not known at this stage.

Posted on the Advocate FB page at about 12 noon, but on their website at midnight.


Walker was picked up at Spero River after falling ill. Was walking with a partner but was unable to go on.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Lophophaps » Mon 12 Oct, 2015 5:25 pm

In the former Tassie helicopter rescues thread there was a report that showed two Police SAR members floundering in deep snow at an OLT rescue. Some people questioned if it was appropriate to laugh at the video, and there were certain views held.

I've contacted a Tassie S&R Policeman I know who is a close colleague of the cop falling about in the snow, Mick . I was advised:
"We all had a laugh at his expense and you can clearly see him laughing about it on the footage ... I'd be concerned if Mick, or any of the crew did not laugh at me for doing the same thing. In fact if they did not laugh at me I'd be genuinely concerned there was a problem! Who hasn't fallen through the snow anyway? I take it as a compliment that the writer clearly thinks we have super powers to levitate above the snow."

So all is well on that regard. It was funny, and if SAR are laughing - including Mick at the time - then I think that we can all laugh with them.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Sun 18 Oct, 2015 9:10 pm

From the Mercury
A BUSHWALKER was flown from Frenchmans Cap today after falling and sustaining rib injuries.

Tasmania Police said the Kingston man, 46, and the other five members of his walking party made contact with police search and rescue officers via mobile phone and returned to Lake Tahune Hut where they waited for the rescue helicopter.

The injured man was treated by a paramedic at the hut and was flown to Hobart in a satisfactory condition.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Fri 23 Oct, 2015 6:53 am

Not rescued yet, Hopefully today

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-23/t ... ea/6878350

From ABC

Tasmania Police are searching the Mount Anne area in the state's South West National Park for a missing bushwalker.

Xavier Lane-Mullins, 37, left his campsite at Scotts Peak Road for a day walk about 6:30am on Thursday morning.

About 3:30pm the Blackmans Bay man telephoned police to say he was lost and his phone battery was running flat.

He said he was wearing a raincoat, thermals and shorts.

Contact with his mobile phone was lost soon afterwards.

Search and rescue police, the State Emergency Service and the rescue helicopter have been used to search for the man.

Inclement weather is hampering the search effort.

Police are asking anyone who was in the Mount Anne area yesterday and may have seen or spoken to Mr Lane-Mullins to contact New Norfolk police.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Mountain Rocket » Fri 23 Oct, 2015 2:32 pm

'Mount Anne Search Update
The search continues, in changeable conditions, for missing bushwalker Xavier Lane-Mullins.
Pictured below are members of SES and Police Search and Rescue team surveying the Elisa Plateau.

Image

Police hold concerns for the welfare of Mr Mullins, due to the prevailing weather conditions and the time that Mr Mullins has now been missing.
Tasmania Police are in regular contact with Mr Mullins family, to provide them timely information about the search effort and support.
Tasmania Police renew their calls for any bush walkers who were in the Mount Anne area yesterday to contact police on 131 444, as they may have information which could assist to narrow the search area.' from Tas Police Facebook.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Fri 23 Oct, 2015 4:35 pm

Thanks for he update Robert.
Hoping that Xavier is found soon, safe and well
Update from the Mercury
Regards OLM
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 7579351241
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby north-north-west » Fri 23 Oct, 2015 5:01 pm

Looks awkward conditions for a search up there.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Old Fart » Fri 23 Oct, 2015 7:41 pm

Bit of an update,

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-23/t ... ea/6878350

A man who is missing in the south-west Tasmanian wilderness will face near-freezing conditions if he has to spend a second night in the bush.

Police are becoming concerned for the safety of 37-year-old bushwalker Xavier Lane-Mullins, who is lost near Mount Anne in Tasmania's Southwest National Park.

There are no plans to scale back the search as night approaches, with temperatures expected to plunge as low as 3 degrees Celsius in the area.

Mr Lane-Mullins, a Red Cross worker from Blackmans Bay, left his campsite at Scotts Peak Road for a day walk about 6:30am on Thursday.

Key points:

On Thursday afternoon, bushwalker Xavier Lane-Mullins called police from top of Mt Anne to say he was lost
Search parties deployed and worked through Thursday night
More than 20 people, two dogs and helicopter involved in search
Cloud has restricted effectiveness of helicopter
Temperatures in the area expected to approach freezing
About 3:30pm he telephoned police to say he was lost on the peak of Mt Anne and his phone battery was running flat.

He said he was lightly dressed, wearing a raincoat, thermals and shorts.

Contact with his mobile phone was lost soon afterwards and inclement weather hampered Thursday night's search effort.

Inspector Matthew McCreadie said the search was a particularly tough assignment.

"It is a very steep and difficult area in spots, it is in the Southwest National Park, so it's a long way from anywhere, but having said that we're hopeful that he hasn't strayed too far from the normal track areas," he said.

The Mt Anne bushwalk is one of Tasmania's most challenging but search crews pushed ahead through most of Thursday night.

Searchers trying to find missing walker
PHOTO: Searchers are covering the steep terrain in inclement weather. (Supplied: Police Search and Rescue)
"We were dropped in probably about 10 or 11 o'clock last night, we walked till about 3:00am in the morning, we've had about three hours sleep. Back up at six continuing the search," said Andy Summers from the SES.

The overnight crews found no trace of Mr Lane-Mullins.

Today, the rescue helicopter, state emergency services, search and rescue staff, civilian walking groups and two specialised tracking dogs were deployed.

Police said cloud has restricted the effectiveness of the chopper.

We've got search crews on the plateau but because of the cloud the helicopters is unable to get to the area we really want to search.
Sergeant Paul Steane
"We've got search crews on the Eliza Plateau but because of the cloud the helicopters is unable to get to the area we really want to search," Sergeant Paul Steane said.

Two tracker dogs were dropped in at midday and more crews arrived.

By late afternoon at least 20 or 30 people were on the mountain.

Inspector Matthew McCreadie said there was growing concern for Mr Lane-Mullins.

"We were contacted yesterday and, like any other person who goes missing, we were concerned at that time," he said.

"But the longer the search goes without us being able to locate Mr Mullins the more concerned we become."

No plan to pull back search effort

Inspector McCreadie said there were no plans to scale back the search.

"We'll be requesting additional resources, including walking clubs, to assist us to expand the search tomorrow," he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Debbie Tabor said conditions would be very cold overnight but rain was not expected.

"Going down to about 3 degrees overnight," she said.

"And it will be cloudy but fine."

Inspector McCreadie said searchers are operating in very difficult terrain.

"We would describe it as extremely rough terrain," he said.

"It's a known bushwalking area but it is very steep and there is a lot of very steep gullies and certainly some very elevated positions.

"It's a very wooded area as well, so it's a very difficult search area."

Police have asked anyone who was in the Mount Anne area on Thursday and may have seen or spoken to Mr Lane-Mullins, to contact New Norfolk police.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Aztec » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 10:39 am

Tas Police posted this a short time ago:

Good news

We can confirm that bush walker Xavier Lane-Mullins was found alive and well by Search and Rescue crews.

He is currently receiving medical assessment and care.

Inspector Matthew McCreadie, said “Police are very pleased to locate Mr Mullins, who has been missing in very cold, remote and difficult terrain. In all of the circumstances Mr Mullins is very lucky, given the length of time he was missing and the clothing he was wearing.”

Tasmania Police have thanked and praised the efforts of people involved, including search and rescue staff, State Emergency Services personnel and volunteers.
Cheers,
Richard

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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Davo1 » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 10:53 am

Great news
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Mountain Rocket » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 11:46 am

Indeed, I wonder where they found him.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby stepbystep » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 11:55 am

Robert H wrote:Indeed, I wonder where they found him.


Total guess but I reckon he came down from the summit area on the wrong side, easy to do in mist, there's lots of problems for anyone if that happens on Anne. Wonderful news he's ok :)
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Mountain Rocket » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 12:08 pm

Yeah just saw that 'he was picked up by volunteers who were driving out to join the search effort.'
Would have been a long couple of days.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Sat 24 Oct, 2015 2:37 pm

Fantastic.
Well done to all the search & rescue personnel & volunteers
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby ben.h » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 1:46 pm

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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Mountain Rocket » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 2:12 pm

ben.h wrote:It was Mt Anne's turn today:
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 7596005981

Whoops. Tas police posted these two photos on their Facebook of the rescue.

Image
Image

Edit: That is annoying they don't auto-resize.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby creeping_moses » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 2:26 pm

This latest one seems rather unusual. No injuries and great weather out there. Going purely on The Mercury and Tas Pol facebook page it seems they decided the terrain was too difficult around Mt Lot so they went for the PLB. Unsure how I feel about this.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Overlandman » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 3:45 pm

More from ABC
Tasmanian police are urging bushwalkers to be better prepared for tough hikes, after rescuing two people on Mount Lot in the state's south.

A man and woman aged in their 20s had almost completed their three-day walk in the Mount Anne Circuit when they decided the terrain was too steep and difficult for them to continue safely.

They activated an emergency beacon just after 8:00am and were picked up by the rescue helicopter.

Constable Chris Williams said conditions got the better of the pair.

"They had the right clothing and equipment but they hadn't set up camp the previous night at a known area," he said.

"They were basically in an exposed area, they experienced snow showers during the evening and the conditions just got too much for them to continue the next morning.

"They'd only walked about 100 metres in about an hour and a half this morning and were just a little underprepared for the nature of the walk and underestimated the difficult terrain they were in."

He said both walkers managed to escape injury.

"Once they were winched up to the helicopter they were taken to their vehicle," he said.

"Because they had no injuries and there were no medical conditions they basically landed at their vehicle and went on their merry way."

Less than two weeks ago, a man was rescued from Mount Anne after spending two nights in the remote area.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby north-north-west » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 6:06 pm

They couldn't turn around and walk out? They couldn't hunker down and rest and then try continuing the next day?

I'm trying hard not to be too judgmental about this one, but it's difficult.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby walkabout » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 6:39 pm

I'm with you nnw. I thought epirbs were for "life threatenting" situations.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Genesis » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 6:48 pm

I agree, It is this sort of seemingly frivolous use of a PLB that will push for the political argument for charging for rescues.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby Sloppy-Walrus » Wed 04 Nov, 2015 7:44 pm

Don't know all the information yet, but from the sounds of it.. Send them the bill for the chopper. I guess a little more public education surrounding the use of EPIRBS/PLBS might be in order. I wonder how these two would feel if they found out that whilst they were getting choppered back to their car, someone in dire need of medical attention was left waiting because the chopper was in use for them..
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby pazzar » Thu 05 Nov, 2015 6:42 am

Maybe we need to beef up the guidebooks to make sure people understand how hard walks like this can be. I think they got the impression that the circuit was relatively easy from a book.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby bcshort » Thu 05 Nov, 2015 8:06 am

Not being an experienced bush walker, I can understand how people could become overwhelmed if they found themselves in a tough situation and panic could easily induce an decision they may not otherwise be taken. At the same time, I am fully on board with the idea that EPIRBs are not a concierge service when you get sick of the trek.

I think pazzar is right on the money when he says beefing up guidebook information is the way to go. I've found a few bush walking books tend to glaze over what level of preparedness and how the track "really" is in terms of exertion. People also tend to rely on outdated information, or advice from friends which can potentially set up a dangerous situation.

A quick search of the wiki seems to suggest there is very little information on 'EPIRB' and 'PLB'. Maybe someone well versed in the devices could right a detailed article on how they work and when to use, and it could be pinned on the forum somewhere? I know I would happily point people to a page whenever they ask about walks that should require a PLB.
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Re: Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

Postby north-north-west » Thu 05 Nov, 2015 8:21 am

Assuming they went up from Condominium Creek, there is plenty of information at the walker registration booth explaining the difficulty of the walk. The Chapman book, which would be the most commonly used, doesn't mince matters about the difficulty and the likelihood of bad conditions.

But you can't tell people who don't want to know. And without suitable experience, it's hard to judge for yourself how accurate walk ratings are.
I'd like to know more about the experience level of the couple, and what information they had before they went in.
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