Another death on Overland Track

[Chris]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-21/a-chinese-touriist-dies-on-the-overland-track-after-suffering-i/5275682

Chinese tourist dies on the Overland track after suffering an injury
Police have confirmed a Chinese national has died after being injured on the Overland track in Tasmania's Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
It is believed the man died of exposure.
Bad weather hampered efforts to retrieve the body by helicopter last night, but a ground crew reached the area today and has now recovered the body.

[stepbystep]

Very sad. I'm told he was only 21 and was near Barn Bluff in a group of 3. They were unprepared for the conditions according to Tas police. There will be a brief story on tonight's ABC news.

[Overlandman]

Also from the link to the ABC News

First fatality

The first call for assistance occurred earlier in the day.

A 68-year-old man from NSW appeared to have suffered a fatal heart condition at the Marion’s Lookout area.

Inspector Kim Steven has issued a warning to walkers.

“Anyone considering walking in the Tasmania wilderness is encouraged to conduct research and prepare adequately as weather conditions in these areas can change very quickly,” he said.

Both bodies were recovered by helicopter and ground search parties.

[Ent]

Was the weather that hostile? Sad news on both counts. Proves that care is needed at all times.

[geoskid]

Was the weather that hostile? Sad news on both counts. Proves that care is needed at all times.

yeah, that was what I was going to ask. Ok , a 68 yr old can have a heart attack anywhere, really - and of course very sad for all concerned.
But the case of the 21yr old dying of exposure or hypothermia really took me by surprise. I hav'nt been checking the weather at Cradle - I've been sweating at Sheffield at work, which as the crow flies is not all that far away.
If the report is correct, then wow, a bit of a wake up call - never get complacent.

[nickthetasmaniac]

Was the weather that hostile? Sad news on both counts. Proves that care is needed at all times.

I was down the southern end of the track yesterday (KO - Windy) and the weather was pretty average, if they had the same conditions on the Cirque it would have been very exposed, especially if someone had been injured and couldn't move. That said, it could have been a lot worse and with the right gear shouldn't have been an issue.

I hav'nt been checking the weather at Cradle - I've been sweating at Sheffield at work, which as the crow flies is not all that far away.
If the report is correct, then wow, a bit of a wake up call - never get complacent.

Frighteningly true. A couple of weeks ago I had guests complain after a very hot trip that they had to carry too many thermals. This was despite us explaining time and time again that it can snow mid-summer in Tassie.

[nickthetasmaniac]

**edit**

Please delete...

[GPSGuided]

And the deceased was in a party of 3. Was he injured in the first place?

[neilmny]

Was the weather that hostile? Sad news on both counts. Proves that care is needed at all times.

.............Ok , a 68 yr old can have a heart attack anywhere, really..........................

What a load of........................??????????????????????????????????????

Being 68 makes this no less tragic, in fact a 68 year old having a go and properly equiped
compared to a young guy who was ill equiped?????????????????

It's all very sad plain and simple.

[geoskid]

Was the weather that hostile? Sad news on both counts. Proves that care is needed at all times.

.............Ok , a 68 yr old can have a heart attack anywhere, really..........................

What a load of........................??????????????????????????????????????

Being 68 makes this no less tragic, in fact a 68 year old having a go and properly equiped
compared to a young guy who was ill equiped?????????????????

It's all very sad plain and simple.

You have misunderstood me Neil, clearly.

[Overlandman]

On ABC News last night, they interviewed a guy from BOM, he said the temperature in the area of the Cirque on Thursday night was around 5 degrees, with wind gusts of 100 kph, so adding the wind chill factor,the temperature was in the hypothermia range.

From today's Advocate Newspaper
Two tourists died in separate medical emergencies while hiking in the Cradle Mountain National Park on Thursday.

A 68-year-old man from New South Wales' Illawarra region died from a suspected heart attack at the park's Marions Lookout area while beginning the Overland Track with his wife.
He died about 11am.

On the Overland Track's northern end, known as the cirque, a 21-year-old Chinese man died about 11pm.

Investigations suggest the man, who was part of a group of walkers, may have died from hypothermia.

Tasmania Police's Inspector Kim Steven said Thursday's change of weather, which saw temperatures drop in the North-West, was a factor.

Police believe the man's walking group may not have been equipped for a multi-day hike.

"Anyone considering walking in the Tasmania wilderness is encouraged to conduct research and prepare adequately as weather conditions in these areas can change very quickly," Inspector Steven said.



It appears that the 68 year old male was doing the whole overland track with his wife & not on a day walk as I presumed
Sad news, deepest sympathy for all concerned. Overlandman

[Ent]

So by winter standards the temps were "mild" but wind speed in the extreme range. A wake up call to us all as I would not have expected a 21 year old without a major medical condition to have died with a group for support. It appears with a tent that this might not have been the case but without full facts this is just an assumption on my behalf. I am now more inclined to consider things like a an emergency bivvy more a must have on a day walk.

It is worthwhile to consider what a thread started with twenty-one year old rescue by helicopter with the same details would have as a way of comments. It does reinforce that it is often better that a rescue is initiated earlier rather than later.

Also, maybe Parks could consider using such tragic events in a narrative style to convey what can happen rather than simple signs and warnings that in the carpark appear rather nanny state warnings/advice. I am thinking of the sign over a weir that states x number of people have died ignoring warnings and do you want to be x+1.

Regards

[Overlandman]

Good words Ent,
Hopefully we can find out through Parks or the Coroners Report as to what gear they were carrying & as you said
maybe Parks could consider using such tragic events in a narrative style to convey what can happen rather than simple signs and warnings that in the carpark appear rather nanny state warnings/advice. I am thinking of the sign over a weir that states x number of people have died ignoring warnings and do you want to be x+1"".


Further information from todays Mercury Newspaper, there is no snow up there at the moment as depicted in the link photo

http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 6834305170

A young tourist has died from exposure while bushwalking on Tasmania’s Overland Track, perishing in gale-force winds, pounding rain and subzero temperatures.

Police have described the death as a preventable tragedy, because it appears the 21-year-old student from China was not prepared for the changeable conditions near Cradle Mountain.

Weather conditions were so ferocious that the rescue helicopter could not reach the man until the day after the alarm was raised.

Police Inspector Kim Steven said the man’s death was due to “a combination of bad luck and very bad weather conditions”.

“A person dying that young is a tragedy, especially a death that is preventable,’’ he said.

The student’s death, on Thursday night, followed the death of a NSW bushwalker only hours earlier in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The 68-year-old NSW man appeared to have suffered a fatal heart condition near Marion’s Lookout.

Inspector Steven said the 21-year-old Chinese national appeared to have perished from hypothermia.

The young man was part of a group of three students from a Melbourne university who had started out from the northern end of the track that morning. They were on their way to the first overnight hut at Waterfall Valley when they were exposed to pouring rain, 100km/h winds and a wind chill factor of below zero at a place known as the cirque.

Insp Steven said the three were not equipped to deal with the elements near Barn Bluff, on the back of Cradle Mountain. The 21-year-old fell unconscious and one of his friends battled on to Waterfall Hut to seek help from a Parks and Wildlife hut warden, who notified authorities.

PWS rangers and other walkers spent “numerous hours giving first aid and attempting to rescusitate the man,’ said Insp Steven.

The Police Westpac Rescue chopper made several unsuccessful attempts to land when it arrived, he said.

“It was dark and unfortunately the wind was too dangerous.’’

A land party of two Search and Rescue officers and a paramedic left Devonport at 10pm on Thursday and did not reach the body until 3am yesterday.

Insp Steven urged anyone considering walking the tracks in Tasmania to conduct research and prepare for all weather conditions.

Police said the 68-year-old NSW man died from a pre-existing medical condition.

His body was recovered by the rescue helicopter crew and flown to Devonport at 3pm.

[headwerkn]

Just read the news myself - very tragic.

The BOM did issue a strong weather warning for yesterday and while much of the state was enjoying mid-20s temperatures, the wind was certainly strong, so it isn't difficult to imagine that on exposed ridges out west it would have been very nasty indeed. Especially without decent insulating gear and shelter.

In this case it does sound like things might have turned out different if the rescue helicopter could have reached them immediately... but of course, everyone's told a thousand times over you need to be able to survive the elements independently for an extended period time. Hard to know exactly where the mistakes were made without the full details, but it isn't difficult to see how the combination of poor clothing choices (ie. cotton, no waterproof layers), rain, strong winds and no shelter could quickly turn fatal.

I have to agree with Ent - these are the sorts of stories that need to be conveyed (in multiple languages) at the Visitors Centre before anyone disembarks on the OLT.

As for the poor NSW bloke who had the heart attack... yes, that is a different scenario. Heart attacks often strike people who you wouldn't typically consider "walking heart attack victims". I've heard so many stories about people in their 30s and 40s who were seemingly fit and healthy suffer massive, fatal heart attacks with scarcely a warning. My grandfather recently had a moderate heart attack... granted, he's 83 and not doing multiday hikes anymore but he's been active all his life, eaten carefully, never overweight and (until recently anyway) had a handshake so firm it'd break your metacarpals... in hospital he admitted that you really just don't know what condition your heart is in until it tells you... and sometimes that's when it is too late.

Again it is only speculation until you know the full story, but that bloke may have had no idea what state his heart was in, regularly bushwalked without an issue and figured what he was doing wasn't unreasonably risky.... and the only thing that could have saved him may have been an EMT team walking right behind with a Packer-Whacker.

The point being - his death may have been unavoidable regardless of any action he took or gear he carried.

Whereas the young bloke died because he wasn't suitably prepared for the conditions the OLT (or indeed just about any track in Tasmania) can present.

Cheers, Ben.

[gregm]

This sad loss of life highlights the risks of exposure when hiking. Should it be mandatory for hikers to be subject to carrying a basic set of safety gear, even for a day hike? I started hiking later in life (2008 age 55) with the South Coast Track being my first multi-day hike. Having grown up around boats, the importance of safety & respect for the weather was always of paramount importance. Whilst being caught in foul weather at sea with nowhere to hide is potentially much worse than a similar weather event on land, both situations can be life threatening.

Most of my hiking has been in Tasmania with up to 10 nights multi-day (SW circuit) & up to 30km day hikes e.g Barn Bluff/Cradle Mtn; Freycinet Circuit. The safety equipment I carry is almost the same for day as for multi-day hikes & only weighs an extra 2 to 3 kilos. It also enhances the pleasure & comfort experienced on some walks when the weather is only average or turns unexpectantly nasty. I have experienced snow & sleet on one trip around Mt Rufus & sleet & very strong winds when ascending & retreating from Barn Bluff back towards Cradle Mtn. Both of these day trips were in early February & I was able to enjoy these days because I had appropriate clothing plus backup equipment if required.

My day hiking kit includes heavy duty breathable waterproof jacket & pants, spare thermal merino fleece top & synthetic long johns, thermal gloves & beanie, thermal space blanket as part of first-aid kit, PLB, Telstra Mobile (many mountain ridges/tops), whistle, matches/fire starter, water purification, small shelter (lightweight waterproof tarp with light line attached). I also carry extra food & water in case I get caught out overnight (as I once did when a group of us turned an extra long off-track day hike/climb into an over-nighter. Fortunately it wasn't too cool as it was around Spring in SE QLD & we had a SPOT tracker so those at home knew we were OK & exactly where we were camped).

I guess my attitude towards safety is based on my experience at sea, my relative inexperience & conservative approach towards hiking safety & the fact that as I get older I become more conservative & safety conscious. I wouldn't mind betting though that younger, experienced & adventurous hikers carry most if not all plus some gear to ensure their safety & self relience when the going gets tough.

So ! Is there a place for a mandatory safety kit or do we continue with the same standards i.e. anything goes ?

Happy & safe hiking.
Greg

[wayno]

jeans are a common theme for wearing on the trails for those who arent that experienced... it's summer. and for the uninitiated, they dont see a problem with wearing them... they must have the ability to suck up something approaching their own weight in water....
three teens got lost in the south island in nz in the snow, they had to overnight in the open.... two died, one lived. the one who lived was wearing woollen clothing and no major cotton garments. the two who died were wearing cotton clothes.

[GPSGuided]

I am curious if the 3 walkers had the knowledge to try to pool their body heat during the episode?

[flyfisher]

unfortunately,too late now.

[GPSGuided]

unfortunately,too late now.

They could have huddled togethers and the one who departed was one on the outside. Still, a bit of a surprise to hear a 21yo can die of hypothermia in that area in mid-summer.

[Tastrudger]

I was walking in the cradle mountain area on Thursday, when these people died. I'm pretty shocked / sad. It was very windy and rained solidly, with poor visibility. It was cold, but not that cold - around 4 to 7 degrees. No snow, sleet or ice of any kind; not cold enough. So conditions were not that bad, and that tells us that something really has gone wrong. What gear did the group of students have? Were they trying to go up Barns Bluff? (crazy in that weather). We walked from Scott kilvert hut to dove lake, so we were in the same area. Very sad, and a real alarm bell on the risks

[wayno]

three men were in a small boat that sank of the coast of nz.... one was a fit teen the other two were middle aged.
they were in the water for at least half a day from memory.
the teen died of hypothermia.... the middle aged men survived.
the reason surmised for the teen dying was probably because he had a lot less body fat than the middle aged men, the teenager lost heat far faster.

[Scottyk]

unfortunately,too late now.

They could have huddled togethers and the one who departed was one on the outside. Still, a bit of a surprise to hear a 21yo can die of hypothermia in that area in mid-summer.

I think we should refrain from making judgements on what this group could have done, none of us were there and the details that have been made public are understandably brief.
Lets remember that someone has died.

[GPSGuided]

I think we should refrain from making judgements on what this group could have done, none of us were there and the details that have been made public are understandably brief.

It's not a judgement but a question on the circumstances of a tragic death. A legitimate line of questioning as for the purpose of coroners.

[Ent]

All that can be hoped is something good can come from people been made aware what happened and maybe a means to avoid it. As tragic as the Scott-Kilvertt event was I do believe that for a long time people were more aware of the risks, and better prepared, so it can only be speculated how many lives this knowledge might have saved. It sadly will not bring them back but it likely has saved others.

Having frequented the area I could not but help to notice the vast variation in people's preparedness. It can go from heat stroke weather to hypothermia in an hour. I have almost been blasted of the Cirque on my first walk there as a teenager by wind, rain and snow but thanks to friend that had overseen the newbies we had been well enough equipped with cobbled together gear that was begged and borrowed. I wonder what my fate could had been without the pre-planning evening where gear was examined by the "experienced" friend.

As mentioned, all the facts are not known, so it might be that some underlying medical condition existed. I only hope that Parks works on refining its message to people not familiar with the area. And that is where the effort should be in my opinion.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ILUVSWTAS]

Still, a bit of a surprise to hear a 21yo can die of hypothermia in that area in mid-summer.

I guess it would seem strange to some of the mainland viewrs, Not at all to those of us who live and walk down here though.
We get snow every summer down here in Tassie, it's always a risk, and you should always factor in cold conditions on multiday walks.

[Giddy_up]

35 degrees centigrade is the magic number, once your body temp fall under this your at risk, and that is not very cold at all if your wet and the wind is blowing.

[wayno]

welcome to the roaring forties... top of the routeburn and milford tracks forecast for windchill of minus 5 this week...
wind up to 120k's around stewart island...

[Giddy_up]

welcome to the roaring forties... top of the routeburn and milford tracks forecast for windchill of minus 5 this week...
wind up to 120k's around stewart island...

That sort of weather will do it wayno for sure, still this is a tragedy that could have been averted one would think.

[Nuts]

In this day and age I think avoiding these sorts of tragedy is largely a function of the head one is allocated.
Medical conditions come to a conclusion in the bush like anywhere else, more people, more conclusions.

These are tragic for families and friends, otherwise discussions seem like simply morbid fascination to me.

Regulation, perhaps this would help. I doubt this, maybe avoid one or two, maybe not. Where should it start Mascot, Port Melbourne and Tullamarine?

[GPSGuided]

I guess it would seem strange to some of the mainland viewrs, Not at all to those of us who live and walk down here though.
We get snow every summer down here in Tassie, it's always a risk, and you should always factor in cold conditions on multiday walks.

Thanks. It's good information for us on the mainland who like to visit Tassie for the great outdoors.