West Coast Rescue

[Overlandman]

From the Advocate

A WALKER had to be rescued after falling down an embankment while walking on Kelly Basin on the West Coast.

The 30-year-old woman from Launceston went walking with a group from the University of Tasmania in the area and were on return walk from Kelly Basin to Macquarie heads when they activated their EPIRB.

The woman had fallen six metres down an embankment and injured her shoulder and ankle.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was deployed however unable to attend due to poor weather conditions in the area and she and her group were eventually reached by a walking group made up of emergency services personnel.

She was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

[Strider]

I wonder how they planned to cross the Gordon River? Seems strange that a rescue crew walked in rather than by water?

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[GPSGuided]

She was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Minor injuries? I wonder how minor? Possibly in the gray zone for activating their PLB?

[MickyB]

When I first read the title I immediately thought of forum member 303294345

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19052

[icefest]

When I first read the title I immediately thought of forum member 303294345

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19052

You can remember that number?

[MickyB]

When I first read the title I immediately thought of forum member 303294345

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19052

You can remember that number?

Yeah. Can't you?

I remember the discussion. Had to find the link to remember his name (or number in this case)

[Mechanic-AL]

303294345 was the first candidate for a rescue that popped into my mind too
If he's still out there now he must be getting mighty skinny!!

He might still be wandering around in circles trying to remember where he left his mull stash!!

[north-north-west]

If he's still out there he's doing the Body Farm thing.
Someone I don't think we'll ever see again. One way or another.

[Vee]

Geez if he's out there he's probably out of dunny paper by now

[Strider]

She was taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Minor injuries? I wonder how minor? Possibly in the gray zone for activating their PLB?

In this area, there is no grey zone.

[north-north-west]

Geez if he's out there he's probably out of dunny paper by now

[GPSGuided]

In this area, there is no grey zone.

But what was the 'minor' injury? A bruise here and there would warrant a helivac? Sounded like she sprained her ankle and was the primary justification.

[Strider]

In this area, there is no grey zone.

But what was the 'minor' injury? A bruise here and there would warrant a helivac? Sounded like she sprained her ankle and was the primary justification.

Yes. What's the problem?

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[GPSGuided]

Surprised how the tone changed from past PLB discussions.

[Travis22]

No idea of the area, Tas PWS website shows the hike to be a 'level 3 - some sections are wet and muddy underfoot' 3-4hour return (5.4km one way) trip. 30 minutes drive from Queenstown to the start of the hike.

I would guess a big factor for activating the PLB would be the size of the fall she took - 6m is enough to sustain life threatening internal injuries, sounds like she was *&%$#! lucky. Until being observed and reassured by professionals im sure her friends didnt want to move her around to much let alone walk her out just in case there was more wrong, after all she didt just sprain her ankle tripping on uneven ground etc. or perhaps she did but then she went 6m over an embankment...

Travis.

[Strider]

Travis the article says they were walking from Kelly Basin to Macquarie Heads. This is some pretty hardcore terrain and involves crossing the Gordon River (or the King, if traversing the Eastern shore of Macquarie Harbour. Either way. It's a *&%$#! hard slog and would take multiple days.

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[stepbystep]

I'd suggest the media report is wrong, the Kelly basin walk is a basic walk on very flat terain, perhaps they went exploring and had a slip? It's awfully slippy country out there !

[Phil]

So apparently this group were in fact UTAS Architecture students who were on the west coast for a multi-day field trip (related to their architecture studies, nothing to do with bushwalking). I only have this information third hand, but I've been told (these are not my words) that the person in charge of the trip thought it would be a good idea to take the group of students out for a bushwalk the afternoon of the incident. Apparently they left at around 2pm, with signage indicating it was a 4hr walk (not sure if this comment meant one way or return??). The story goes that the students (who are not experienced bush walkers) were returning in pitch black darkness, using their smart-phone torches for lighting; subsequently this female fell down the embankment in the darkness. From what I've been told she was extremely fortunate to not incur a worse outcome from the fall.

Apparently the leader/lecturer in charge of the group is a experienced bush walker............

**Again, this is not my story, I am passing on information that I've been told.

[north-north-west]

Thanks for the info, Phil. The story you've told makes sense. If true, they were a bit lackadaisical, but they will have learnt a lot from the experience.