Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

[Gimped]

If you keep your gps on you with auto logging, won’t matter.

[Nuts]

I've always used a small waist pack with a few things in, beacon, head torch gummi bears etc. It goes on under the pack waist belt and below it at the front.

[Overlandman]

From Vigilante news
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated to a rescue on Mt Wellington on the evening of the 17th
A lost walker was found and flown to the Hobart Cenotaph where they were collected by police.
(No mention if male or female)
Regards OLM

[Overlandman]

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescued an injured walker (knee) in the Frenchman’s Cap area this afternoon.

[Overlandman]

A hiker suffering cardiac issues has been rescued by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Waterfall Valley on the Overland Track this morning at 7.30am. The hiker is a 50 year old male from New Norfolk.

From ABC

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-30/ ... t/11558580

Police have rescued two bushwalkers in separate incidents in Tasmania's national parks over the weekend.

About 8pm yesterday, the rescue helicopter was sent to help a 50-year-old New Norfolk man suffering from chest pain at the Waterfall Valley Hut.

Bad weather prevented the helicopter from reaching the scene, but land teams found the man at 2:30am today.

He was evacuated by helicopter at 7:30am to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment.

It comes after two other bushwalkers were rescued on Frenchmans Cap on Saturday morning due to one of them sustaining a knee injury.

Police are warning walkers to be prepared when they set off into the wilderness.

[Hot073]

Just happened to look at the Dove Lake webcam and the chopper is there

[north-north-west]

Interesting. Wouldn't think they'd be flying in those conditions.

[Hot073]

It’s now at the visitor centre and snowing heavily,not sure if it’s grounded

[stepbystep]

The "government" had a media event up there today announcing their latest circus act, I imagine all the activity in the carpark was around that.

[north-north-west]

The "government" had a media event up there today announcing their latest circus act, I imagine all the activity in the carpark was around that.

Of course. The *&%$#! would order S&R out in these conditions just to act as a backdrop.

[ILUVSWTAS]

There were 2 rescues off the OT today. One involving a toddler. They would have done everything they could to reach the child if it were in danger.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmania Police Facebook

Police are urging bushwalkers to be aware of weather conditions and forecasts following a rescue of two adults and an infant from the Overland Track at Cradle Mountain today.

The stranded party were found to be extremely cold and wet, but not physically injured.

Around 7.30am today police responded to an Emergency Beacon activated from the Overland Track, near Marion’s Lookout.

“The party began the Overland Track yesterday, and due to the severe weather conditions were forced to put up a tent and sit the night out,” said Inspector Steve Jones.

Members of Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services, Western Search and Rescue and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were deployed to the location shortly after the beacon activation.

Due to the dangerous weather conditions, the rescue helicopter was grounded at Dove Lake. Ground search parties reached the stranded group at around 10.25am and walked them out, reaching Dove Lake at 1.15pm.

“It’s timely to remind anyone planning on hiking to give serious consideration to weather conditions prior to setting off,” said Inspector Jones.

“Weather warnings are issued for safety and bushwalkers must amend their plans accordingly, including cancelling or postponing if necessary.

“Bushwalking while a weather warning is in place puts bushwalkers in danger and puts rescuers at unnecessary risk,” he said.

[north-north-west]

Given the current conditioos and forecast, who takes an infant/toddler up onto the Cirque? That's just . . . no.

[Nuts]

Fuchi Capesta, what went wrong? (and why) Was it the latest bluebird advertising, was it the protection of 'system', income vs refund, was the toddler disguised as a wombat?

And who let politicians come so close to a focal point of responsibility, we have public servants for that.

[Baeng72]

Yesterday morning we were at the Lake St. Clair visitor centre when it opened and heard over the radio about the toddler needing to be rescued from Cradle. Was glad to be off the track by then.

[Overlandman]

A 59 year old Victorian hiker has been rescued by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter from the Blue Peaks area at Middle lake.
He became overdue and missed his flight home. Family raised the alarm.
He was found at his tent site, sheltering from the icy snow conditions and flown back to his rental car at Lake Makenzie.

From Tasmania Police Facebook

Regards OLM

[Hot073]

And again!! Been there since 6 pm last night,maybe had to walk in to get somebody at a hut??

[Nuts]

These ?:

[Hot073]

Makes you wonder why this keeps happening on the O/T and why they’re not doing anything about it?

[Overlandman]

Westpac Rescue Helicopter is on it’s way to Windermere to remove the two walkers suffering with hypothermia.

[north-north-west]

Makes you wonder why this keeps happening on the O/T and why they’re not doing anything about it?

What are "they" supposed to do about it? People are already given extensive lists of necessary equipment, and warned about conditions before they set out. Apart from closing all the tracks whenever the weather plays up - which would be fiendishly difficult if not impossible - there's no way to prevent the occasional incident. It's more common on the Overland because it's such a well known track and attracts bucket-listers who don't know what they're getting into.

[Nuts]

That's a good question (and a reasonable answer). What would we have 'them' do? Not enough info to know what went wrong, the group aren't happily on their way with a bit of cold weather experience under their belt, clearly something did. To some extent, the park service, having decided to implement a restrictive quota system, does have an obligation to continue to consider incidents further effected by their action. As does the state government, need to consider their responsibility while further driving numbers up. They aren't proposing their own family as the collateral damage.

On the coalface, in terms of a positive contribution, I've long thought that this track should start from a night at Waldheim, with the first ranger intervention there. People are in a rush, through travel and to get everything sorted, then submitted to an immediate time frame to start walking. There's often no buffer or time to focus, see & start to get a feel for the area and scale of what you are committing to, talk to others, and reconsider in a safe place (rather than possibly late in the day, after the steepest track, on the highest plateau).

[Nuts]

.. and give the money back. If they turn up with gear and decide, that day, it's too much, return the OL pass fee. If this 'happens' already, advertise it. If they have a tent checked off, be flexible to offer them another chance, advertise that. Occasional overcrowding or a whiff of lost revenue, relax.

[Nuts]

.. and , in places with defined 'daywalk' areas, as at Cradle Mt. sell a 'day walk' pass, that keeps the peppers crowd.. down. It could be priced to pay a day-walk ranger, a boater patrol..

[Hot073]

Makes you wonder why this keeps happening on the O/T and why they’re not doing anything about it?

What are "they" supposed to do about it? People are already given extensive lists of necessary equipment, and warned about conditions before they set out. Apart from closing all the tracks whenever the weather plays up - which would be fiendishly difficult if not impossible - there's no way to prevent the occasional incident. It's more common on the Overland because it's such a well known track and attracts bucket-listers who don't know what they're getting into.

[Hot073]

North west,I meant they as in PWS,government etc.

[Hot073]

Thanks Nuts,that was a more reasonable answer,cheers

[CBee]

My 2c. Charging 200+$ for a hike is like offering a product to a market. Customers will possibly not bail because of weather, given the gear available today that should cater perfectly for hut to hut daily hike on suspended bridges and boards. The total amount of money spent for "the experience of a lifetime" (flights, accomodation, permits, brand new gear and transport to/from airport) is fairly high to just reasonably turn around because of bad weather.

[Warin]

The total amount of money spent for "the experience of a lifetime" (flights, accomodation, permits, brand new gear and transport to/from airport) is fairly high to just reasonably turn around because of bad weather.

Particularly when you cannot do a restart when the weather clears.

The problem is understanding that the weather can be lethal, and that should override any cost consideration. Perhaps an insurance option, if you cannot start due to weather a refund of costs? Is there such a travel policy?

[north-north-west]

Perhaps the other 'they' in the equation - the walkers - could do a bit more research, and make sure they really do understand the implications of what they have chosen to do? Perhaps there should be shared responsibility rather than continually pressuring TasPAWS (whenever an incident occurs) to do the impossible by idiotproofing the walk?