family of 5 activate epirb blue mts

[walkerchris77]

Good to see they are safe.

[perfectlydark]

Hmm I would have thought daywalk gone awry but if they logged with police beforehand maybe something more.serious? Any further details on this?

[walkerchris77]

Cant find anything else. Would have thought if they were smart enough to hire an epirb and log their trip that they would have taken adequate supplies too. At least they had a beacon. I wonder if they have to pay for the beacon now they have set it off.

[Gadgetgeek]

My guess is that it was only a dayhike. At least they had the sense to log it, and take the beacon, much safer for the rescuers that way, rather than having to start a search after they were overdue. All sorts of things. Maybe the kids gassed out and then the adults realized they were too far from the parking lot? Lots of possibilities. If the heli had to pull out of the operation, maybe they got caught in some weather as well.

[robertoman]

Saw the kid on the news. He looked like he had just had his first taste of adventure and was up for more. Looked like a day trip gone horribly wrong. Seemed like they logged the trip, had the beacon, but no idea of how long (distance and time) the walk was. I suspect hubby may be making amends for a while to come

[madmacca]

Cant find anything else. Would have thought if they were smart enough to hire an epirb and log their trip that they would have taken adequate supplies too. At least they had a beacon. I wonder if they have to pay for the beacon now they have set it off.

Well, S&R people have known exactly where to go to, and what they were dealing with. Saved the taxpayer a bunch of money from a more expansive and expensive search - charging them for the beacon may be counter-productive in the longer term.

But I assume you have to put down a deposit when you rent these things, and they would probably have blown that deposit by failing to return a functioning beacon.

[jdman]

I heard on the radio a report that they were canyoning and they were wearing wetsuits and had taken no dry clothing.

[johnw]

Cant find anything else. Would have thought if they were smart enough to hire an epirb and log their trip that they would have taken adequate supplies too. At least they had a beacon. I wonder if they have to pay for the beacon now they have set it off.

Well, S&R people have known exactly where to go to, and what they were dealing with. Saved the taxpayer a bunch of money from a more expansive and expensive search - charging them for the beacon may be counter-productive in the longer term.

But I assume you have to put down a deposit when you rent these things, and they would probably have blown that deposit by failing to return a functioning beacon.

These are actually loaned free of charge under the TREK program by NSW Police and NPWS.
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/community_issues/crime_prevention/trek

I'm not aware of any condition to pay if the need to activate arises but haven't used the service myself (I have my own PLB). I would hope that isn't the case as it may discourage use beyond the point when it should have been activated, with potential outcome as you indicated.

[Turfa]

I'm not aware of any condition to pay if the need to activate arises but haven't used the service myself (I have my own PLB). I would hope that isn't the case as it may discourage use beyond the point when it should have been activated, with potential outcome as you indicated.

Could that be a good thing...... I mean, if your "emergency" situation was such that you might reconsider activating your PLB because of a $100 ( or whatever) charge, then I would suggest that you are not really in that much trouble.

[walkerchris77]

Even a donation would be good. I guess you can do that anyway. Id be happy to give a donation if I was rescued and my life was saved.

[GPSGuided]

I'd think that the police has already factored in the replacement cost in their program. To charge users an activation fee (post event) is sure to attract Daily Terror reporters. Most unwise.

[perfectlydark]

I'd think that the police has already factored in the replacement cost in their program. To charge users an activation fee (post event) is sure to attract Daily Terror reporters. Most unwise.

agreed. Tacked onto the 'this rescue cost taxpayers 50 bajillion dollars. Lets bill them' nonsense that goes along with it

[Strider]

Even a donation would be good. I guess you can do that anyway. Id be happy to give a donation if I was rescued and my life was saved.

I'd give more than a donation!

[GPSGuided]

I'd give more than a donation!

Hand over your Scarp2 and that new Mora knife!

[walkon]

It's actually a saving having the people activate the plb. The cost of rescue is significantly cheaper not having to mount and send out a massive search party. So any thought of charging the people rescued for a plb would be silly really since the money saved is many times that of the cost of a plb.

[walkerchris77]

Good point walkon.

[johnw]

I'm not aware of any condition to pay if the need to activate arises but haven't used the service myself (I have my own PLB). I would hope that isn't the case as it may discourage use beyond the point when it should have been activated, with potential outcome as you indicated.

Could that be a good thing...... I mean, if your "emergency" situation was such that you might reconsider activating your PLB because of a $100 ( or whatever) charge, then I would suggest that you are not really in that much trouble.

You and I might be experienced enough to make a prediction of when a point is likely to be reached when self rescue may no longer sensibly be an option. The limited facts reported suggest that this party may not have had the experience to make that kind of assessment. Preparedness aside, in my view they did absolutely the right thing in activating the beacon early. The mental picture I have is they are standing at the bottom of a darkening Blue Mountains canyon, wearing only damp wetsuits, no other clothing available. The sun is starting to descend, it is becoming colder and for whatever reason they feel unable to continue, but are not necessarily lost or injured. It is a potential hypothermia situation that they may or may not recognise. The last thing I would want to see is procrastination on pressing the button because it could incur a cost.