Bushwalk Australia

One from last night
The Vigilante News
At 9:19 pm last night a solo walker activated their emergency personal locator beacon whilst walking in the area known as the Labyrinth, north-west of Lake St Clair.

The experienced walker, a 64 year old male from Victoria was well-equipped for an extended walk in Tasmania and activated his beacon due to sustaining a minor injury and losing the main track.

A search and rescue ground crew were activated comprising members of Tasmania Police, Ambulance Tasmania and the State Emergency Service. The walker, however, was located and rescued using crew from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The successful rescue was slowed by the walker switching the emergency locator beacon off in an attempt to conserve battery life. Tasmania Police would like to remind the community that GPS locator devices such as EPIRBs and personal locator beacons work best when sending a constant signal by leaving the device on and placing it in an open area with a view of the sky.

The switching off of the PLB is a bit weird.

Switching off the PLB has happened on other rescues for the same reason. At night a small light will be visible by detection devices on the helicopter.

There have been a few rescues of late, one last week at New Pelion, one the week before at Forth Valley look out on the OLT
Not sure why they don’t report all the helicopter rescues that occur?

This one is from Tasmania police

We’re reiterating the importance of being properly prepared when enjoying Tasmania’s wilderness, after a personal locator beacon (PLB) activation at Port Davey in Tasmania’s far south west last night.

A 72 year old man was part of a walking group of three walking from Port Davey to Melaleuca when he injured his knee and required medical assistance.

“The bushwalking group was experienced and well prepared with sufficient food, shelter and equipment, including a working PLB, which enabled the man to be quickly located and transported to hospital,” Constable Phil Vanderwal said.

The man was transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital for medical treatment via the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania.

The remaining two members of the bushwalking group are continuing on their hike to Melaleuca.

“As we get head into summer it’s important for everyone to remember to be prepared, with up-to-date equipment,” said Constable Vanderwal.

“It’s also timely to remember that activating your PLB triggers an immediate response as an emergency situation. People who activate a PLB should also make every effort to be ready, and if possible, signal to rescuers when they arrive.”

Check out more bushwalking tips here: https://www.police.tas.gov.au/news-even ... ilderness/

One for today
From Tas Police

▶️ Around 10am the Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to a Personal Locator Beacon in the vicinity of Hanging Lake.

▶️ The crew attended the location and found the two international walkers. One was suffering hypothermia after climbing to the summit of Federation Peak.

▶️ The two were well prepared and only activated the beacon after the condition of the walker began to deteriorate.

▶️ The helicopter crew were required to walk a short distance to the walking party due to the inclement weather in the area. The walkers were flown from the area and transported back to Hobart.

Overlandman wrote:One was suffering hypothermia after climbing to the summit of Federation Peak.
▶️ The two were well prepared and only activated the beacon after the condition of the walker began to deteriorate.

Does hypothermia happen if walkers really are well prepared?
Think Tas Police could consider using different wording there

gatesy wrote:

Overlandman wrote:One was suffering hypothermia after climbing to the summit of Federation Peak.
▶️ The two were well prepared and only activated the beacon after the condition of the walker began to deteriorate.

Does hypothermia happen if walkers really are well prepared?
Think Tas Police could consider using different wording there

Yes it does. There are all sorts of contributing factors and even the best prepared walker can come unstuck.

Agree, wouldn't be too quick to judge.

There have been a few rescues of late and once again the Westpac Rescue Helicopter team are not publicising what they are up too for unknown reasons.
This morning Polair 73 went to Windermere Hut on the Overland track and brought a patient back to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Regards OLM

Sad to see they are closing the Launceston General Hospital Helipad
Patients now have to go to and from the Launceston Airport by ambulance.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-05/ ... /101830070

Overlandman wrote:Sad to see they are closing the Launceston General Hospital Helipad
Patients now have to go to and from the Launceston Airport by ambulance.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-05/ ... /101830070

Madeleine Ogelvie will fix it

One from Tasmania Police for today
About 11am today police search and rescue responded to a distress signal from a spot beacon on the Crossing River in the Southwest national park.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania responded and winched a crew to the scene in a steep river valley.

The crew located a well-equipped party of 5 from interstate who were pack rafting in the area.

A woman in her 70s was treated for a serious leg injury by Ambulance Tasmania and was flown to hospital.

The group had embarked on an adventure in the south west several days ago and thankfully had all the appropriate equipment with them.

Was a rescue on the Farmhouse Creek track on Saturday,walked past as it was happening.Had a chat to the pilot and police and they let us check out the helicopter.Great bunch of guys.

Something going on up at Mt Field today, on my way back to Lake Dobson the chopper came in low and slow and was circling around the ski tow area. Also there was an ambulance up there, that passed me on the road back out. Would be interested to know what happened. I walked back along the Snow Gum track so didn't pass through the tow area

There was a pretty legit rescue on the South Coast Track a few days ago, apparently a gent got badly lost, dehydrated etc. In potentially related news we saw the Westpac bellypopper pulling some serious Airwolf-style manoeuvres hugging the ground on a rather windy day at PB Low Camp…

I work in Aviation and I can tell you at the moment there’s essentially a rescue everyday. Sometimes multiple times a day when you add in the Mountain Bike tracks - after seeing how many helicopters go to Derby/Maydena and now Queenstown it’s really made me think twice about mountain biking!

From Tasmania Police

Two people rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Tasmania Police media release
10:17am, 7/4/23

Two people have been rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park this morning after a personal locator beacon was activated at 3:15am.

Poor weather and heavy rain in the area prevented access by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Police Search and Rescue along with State Emergency Service volunteers prepared to walk into the area.
Weather cleared sufficiently around 7.30am, which allowed the Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter to access the area.

At 8:40am two people, a father and son aged 67 and 17 from Runaway Bay Queensland, were located uninjured and transported out of the area.

The pair set up camp last night near Lake Solveig in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, but their tent flooded during the night, they were cold and wet and alerted authorities by activating their PLB. The bushwalkers were returned to their parked car wet and cold but otherwise uninjured.

“Wet and windy conditions are forecast over the next two days, so it’s a reminder to those venturing into the Tasmanian wilderness to be prepared with appropriate wet weather gear, warm clothing and we encourage the carriage of personal locator beacons,”
Inspector Darren Hopkins said.

“Remember always tell someone where you are going and when you are planning to return.”

Images provided by Tasmania Police

Overlandman wrote:From Tasmania Police

Two people rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Tasmania Police media release
10:17am, 7/4/23

Two people have been rescued from Walls of Jerusalem National Park this morning after a personal locator beacon was activated at 3:15am.

Poor weather and heavy rain in the area prevented access by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Police Search and Rescue along with State Emergency Service volunteers prepared to walk into the area.
Weather cleared sufficiently around 7.30am, which allowed the Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter to access the area.

At 8:40am two people, a father and son aged 67 and 17 from Runaway Bay Queensland, were located uninjured and transported out of the area.

The pair set up camp last night near Lake Solveig in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, but their tent flooded during the night, they were cold and wet and alerted authorities by activating their PLB. The bushwalkers were returned to their parked car wet and cold but otherwise uninjured.

“Wet and windy conditions are forecast over the next two days, so it’s a reminder to those venturing into the Tasmanian wilderness to be prepared with appropriate wet weather gear, warm clothing and we encourage the carriage of personal locator beacons,”
Inspector Darren Hopkins said.

“Remember always tell someone where you are going and when you are planning to return.”

Images provided by Tasmania Police

It’s like it’s a taxi service.Cold,rain and wind has been forecast for a week for this weekend.

Solveig, so Bernes Valley. That area can flood quickly and you need to know how to read it to get a safe campsite. I've been caught near there myself when the weather went off, but managed to find a spot that was high and dry. Crossing Powena later was not pleasant, however. Getting help wasn't a bad choice, but one does question why they went in there given the forecast.

I was wondering if there are any official rules about deploying an emergency beacon. Casually chatting with rangers, I was told it can be used only for emergency and in life-threatening situations or the impossibility to leave a location and return safely to the car.

CBee wrote:I was wondering if there are any official rules about deploying an emergency beacon. Casually chatting with rangers, I was told it can be used only for emergency and in life-threatening situations or the impossibility to leave a location and return safely to the car.

The assessment of the situation is done by the button presser.
If they did they pressed the button with no hint of some emergency.. then they could (should) be charged IMO.

But judging it simply by what is presented here, no. The people who went in and saw the situation would be best able to judge the situation and the possibility of misuse.

Warin wrote:
The assessment of the situation is done by the button presser.
If they did they pressed the button with no hint of some emergency.. then they could (should) be charged IMO.

But judging it simply by what is presented here, no. The people who went in and saw the situation would be best able to judge the situation and the possibility of misuse.

Yes I understand but I wasn't judging this particular case. I have been flooded before and unable to wade a creek, with all gear wet in very poor weather, but I was convinced that was not a situation serious enough to press the button. I think is useful to speak to others about this. There may be a misconception about the use of a PLB.

The S&R personnel themselves say they prefer people to send for help even when self-rescue seems straightforward to an objective assessor, rather than wait and potentially turn a slightly iffy situation into somethiing far more serious and possibly even lethal.

I do agree that there is a case to be made that obviously frivolous alerts should be financially penalised, but that must be limited to the really obvious ones.

north-north-west wrote:The S&R personnel themselves say they prefer people to send for help even when self-rescue seems straightforward to an objective assessor, rather than wait and potentially turn a slightly iffy situation into somethiing far more serious and possibly even lethal.

This. "We'd much prefer someone request help days too soon than a minute too late" is a direct quote from one paramedic who flies with them. Lots of stories about people who pushed through seemingly 'minor' injuries until they did serious and lasting damage to themselves trying to be tough and not a burden. A bit of sobering thought, especially for those of us who take pride in our abilities and seeing out the situations we put ourselves into independently.

The notion of fining for 'questionable' rescues has been broached many a time and the answer is always the same - they don't want to discourage people from seeking necessary help because of financial concerns over whether they'll have to pay or not. Happens a lot in other countries where helicopter rescues can practically bankrupt the uninsured. That fear costs lives.

Alas, hell haveth no fury like "erma taxpaya" armchair experts on Facebook...

Ironically, the ~$5M pa or so the state put towards the cost of the service is probably the best value taxpayers get. I'm sure DPAC spend similar amounts on pretzels each year...

What a lot of the armchair experts also overlook is that
a) personnel need regular practice and training,
b) the best training is doing it, and
c) the chopper is used for a lot more than bushwalkers. Vehicle and industrial accidents in places without quick road transport to medical facilities are best served by the aerial crews. But those incidents don't get thte media attention.

Always cautious about judging but a few lately have seemed more like 'tapping out' rather than a threat to life.

Another issue that is not often discussed is the fact that once you hit the button all JRCC gets is an emergency indication (unless you have an inreach of course whereby you can text your exact situation). This essentially means that you are triaged to the top of the tree because they don’t know the nature of your emergency, just that you are having one.

While this helicopter is engaged on a mission to rescue people that are “wet and uncomfortable” it can’t be used elsewhere in the state for other critical tasks.

About 10 years ago a 16 yr old girl died of an asthma attack down in Southport because the Road ambulance took too long and the helicopter was rescuing someone off the overland track with a sore knee…..

People need to realise that when they call for help unnecessarily they are therefore depriving others of that critical care that they are hogging.

There are now 4 rescue helicopters in the state, all are based at Rotorlift at Hobart airport.

Tazz81 wrote:About 10 years ago a 16 yr old girl died of an asthma attack down in Southport because the Road ambulance took too long and the helicopter was rescuing someone off the overland track with a sore knee…..

People need to realise that when they call for help unnecessarily they are therefore depriving others of that critical care that they are hogging.

Dover (nearest ambo) to Southport is 17 mins.. without a siren.
Tasmania now has 4 rescue helicopters.
First aid training should cover the first 30 minutes of care.

A 'sore knee' may make it impossible to walk, particularly with a pack on. Waiting for a knee to recover may mean running out of food. 'Unnecessarily' may well be necessary, possibly not required immediately but within a few days and provided the weather cooperates. On the overland track rangers can communicate with the emergency services to provide additional information on the case.

Armchair and 20/20 hindsight are good things... but the reality when people are stressed is very different. Would you rather have them not press the button and end up far worse? Or would you delay a response in case it was needed elsewhere?

I think the present system is as good as we are going to get for the moment. Unless it is a flagrant misuse of the service than leave them alone. There is pressure on the PLB/EPIRB system to enable basic 2 way communication ... don't know if/when that will take place.

Tazz81 wrote:Another issue that is not often discussed is the fact that once you hit the button all JRCC gets is an emergency indication (unless you have an inreach of course whereby you can text your exact situation). This essentially means that you are triaged to the top of the tree because they don’t know the nature of your emergency, just that you are having one.

They will try to contact you by phone. Of course, that is dependent on you having your phone with you, switched on, with sufficient power, and within range of a tower.

Warin wrote:

Tazz81 wrote:About 10 years ago a 16 yr old girl died of an asthma attack down in Southport because the Road ambulance took too long and the helicopter was rescuing someone off the overland track with a sore knee…..

A 'sore knee' may make it impossible to walk, particularly with a pack on. Waiting for a knee to recover may mean running out of food. 'Unnecessarily' may well be necessary, possibly not required immediately but within a few days and provided the weather cooperates.

Which was basically my situation when I called for an evac from below Eldon Bluff.
I know my body well enough to tell when an injury is bad enough to need assistance. I knew I wouldn't be walking out as soon as I went down that morning. In hindsight, the decision was vindicated by
a) weather going off badly overnight, grounding the chopper the following day
b) the knee stiffening up so much overnight that I could barely hobble along on clear flat ground without a load (and we were days from the nearest road, off-track) and
c) the recovery to tracked daywalk taking over a month and to full pack taking at least three.