Briefly:
Two adults and a nine year old child They were rescued after being stranded for 36 hours in Tasmania’s Jerusalem Walls National Park, where temperatures reached -8.8C.
The boy, who suffered from hypothermia, was treated by rescuers who arrived on foot after attempts to send a rescue helicopter were thwarted by bad weather.
What then?
The family was taken to hospital as a precaution, with police describing the incident as a “serious accident that could have ended tragically.”
A family of three who were trapped in Tasmania’s Jerusalem Walls National Park for 36 hours have been airlifted to safety, with police describing the incident as a “serious incident that could have ended tragically”.
Bad weather conditions that had hampered previous evacuation efforts finally ended on Tuesday, allowing a Westpac rescue helicopter to reach them at 9:30 a.m.
Tasmania Police Inspector Michael Johnston said the family, which included two adults and a nine-year-old child, activated their personal locator device to call for help at about 4.30pm on Sunday.
“I don’t think they lost their way. I think the weather was pressing on them more than that, which prevented them from continuing,” said Inspector Johnston. ABC mornings Tuesday.
“The adults were fine. The child was clearly suffering from the effects of hypothermia. It was very serious and could have ended tragically.”
The family, believed to be from Launceston, were taken to Launceston General Hospital for a check-up.
The family locator beacon (PLB) was “critically important” to their survival, Inspector Johnston said.
“PLB gives you some basic information. The rest of the information we got, we were able to get through a text message from the party there.
“So we knew who was there, and a rough idea of the conditions they faced, and the state they were in.”
Deteriorating weather conditions made it impossible to use the helicopter, so a ground crew of eight paramedics, EMS and police officers made the five-hour flight instead.
“They are highly skilled, highly trained and I think they are the right people to be put in that environment at that time,” Inspector Johnston said.
“They set up camp, took tents, clothes and food. They were able to put themselves in a position where the child could get medical care and improve his condition significantly during that period. But they were well equipped to stay as long as they needed to stay.”
This bad weather continued throughout Monday and into Tuesday, meaning the search team spent 36 hours in some of Tasmania’s harshest winter conditions.
According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature in the Jerusalem Walls National Park at 4:30 p.m. Sunday was 0.1 degrees below zero, a “feel-good” temperature of 8.8 degrees below zero.
Inspector Johnston warned that despite the resources and expertise of emergency services personnel, there are times when “we are overwhelmed by the weather and we are unable to reach people”.
“The second walking party we sent yesterday with extra clothing and food was unable to reach the group last night.
“They were pulled out by a flooded river a kilometre away,” he said.
The park’s information describes it as “a majestic place in the heart of the mountain wilderness,” adding: “Hikers should be prepared, as the weather can change from hour to hour.”
Police warn weather ‘could hamper’ rescue efforts
Inspector Johnston warned others considering heading into the Tasmanian wilderness during the colder months that in some cases rescues may not be able to be carried out due to the weather.
“We will reiterate our warnings and advice to people who are going on foot to some of the very beautiful parts of Tasmania… and I understand the appeal of being there, but the weather has been our enemy over the last few days,” he said.
“Despite the experience of our people, their training and equipment, and the fact that we have helicopter resources that we can call upon, there are times when the weather defeats us and we are unable to reach people.
“Plan your trip, be aware of the weather and understand that the weather in that part of Tasmania can change very quickly.”
It was published. , Updated
