bushwalker crawls with broken leg 2 days for rescue

[wildwanderer]

Experienced solo walker falls down 6m waterfall, breaks leg and wrist then crawls for two days to a clearing hoping he will be seen by searchers.

Great story of guts and determination but maybe tell someone where you going (and carry a plb) next time.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-18/ ... t/11522794

[ofuros]

Lots of learnings...plan for a worst case scenario, a little extra food, bivy bag, emergency blanket, plb...all lightweight options.
He survived to walk another day...would have been a long two days though.

[Petew]

Touching the void 'lite'?

Must have been an ordeal and then some.

Methinks a PLB is on his shopping list....

[wildwanderer]

Touching the void 'lite'?

Id say so. Must have been excruciating.

[warnesy]

I struggle as to why you wouldn’t carry a PLB. It is cheap insurance.


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[Petew]

I believe he had his phone with him but dropped it in a creek.

Big mistake not telling anyone where he was going though.

[wildwanderer]

I believe he had his phone with him but dropped it in a creek.

Big mistake not telling anyone where he was going though.

May have been something to do with the complacency of years of experience. Guy was in SES and a bushwalking club. Very experienced. New the area extremely well.

Several very experienced people I know rarely carry PLBs. Reason they give: PLBs didnt exist for most of their walking careers and everything worked out fine.

Just shows murphy eventually comes knocking and you better be prepared when he does!

[CraigVIC]

The result would have been exactly the same if he had a plb. Same broken bones, same recovery.

There's few sport/hobbies that I can think of that are cheaper or easier than bushwalking. The barrier to entry for a beginner is extremely low. Hope that never changes.

[wildwanderer]

The result would have been exactly the same if he had a plb. Same broken bones, same recovery

Except he wouldn't have had to crawl for 2 days. Search and rescue costs would have been alot less.

he was very lucky they found him, could have easily passed out from the pain while crawling and still be hidden and dying of exposure near the falls.

Plbs are not expensive especially when they could save your life. (And save 10 of thousands in unnecessary SAR costs)

[Mechanic-AL]

Not sure of the terrain this guy was in but keep in mind this was only a 3 hour walk he set out on.
How many people here would decide NOT to do a 3 hour walk because they may not of had a PLB with them ?
I thought he did exceptionally well considering the circumstances.......

[onward]

I carry a plb on any solo walk (and most non-solo walks)...yes even a 3hr walk in an area I know well; one snake bite is all it takes, or a simple fall and the older we get the more prone we are fragile bones and slower reflexes, plus I would use it if I came across another bushwalker with say, two broken legs. 120gms 7 year battery for $300; silly not to have one. Does it make me more complacent about risk...possibly, but I hope not. And a phone is not yet a substitute for a plb.

[Biggles]

Apparently he learned his "survival skills" from his bushwalking club!
I hope the club gives consideration to briefing members on the value of carrying with them a personal locator beacon, irrespective of walk length, and how it can improve the odds of being found by chance (as the bushwalker was) versus a known small-search area as per the beacon's signal.

[Petew]

Regardless of familiarity/walk length/PLB, he should have told someone where he was going. No fancy equipment needed for that.

I'm walking here. I'll be back at this time etc....

I'm glad he is ok, must have been terrible.

[Meanderer]

My understanding is that Brisbane Bushwalkers (his club) issues PLBs to all leaders on long term loan, so he could have saved a lot of drama had he taken it. Just because a bushwalker is “experienced” doesn’t make them “good”. I’m pretty sure skydivers should still check their chutes no matter how experienced they are. I’m an experienced driver but still do my seatbelt up. But I’m glad he’s ok and hope he spreads the message about risk assessment and correct safety procedures.