Bushwalker fined - activity risks the safety of self/others

[FatCanyoner]

Moderator note: Two topics have been merged here (and title changed to include aspects of both topic titles). Although the two topics originally had different foci, they ended up having much the same discussion, and a lot of duplication.

G'day folks,

I've been getting increasingly annoyed recently by some of the idiots requiring rescue after going bushwalking or canyoning (just a couple days back someone was winched out of a canyon because of a "hand injury" of all things). Rescues are inherently dangerous things, and both professional and volunteer emergency services personnel have to put their own health and safety at risk to help those requiring rescue. As we saw a year back when a paramedic died in NSW during the rescue of an injured canyoner, there can be deadly consequences from even the most textbook rescue operation.

Given that, I was over the moon tonight to hear that NSW Police have fined a 29-year-old Victorian bushwalker (hopefully not from this forum!) who had to be rescued yesterday. He was winched out of the Wolgan Valley (in the Wollemi National Park) last night, suffering a minor ankle injury. I've copied the entire police media release below, which captures how stupid this guy was. His food consisted solely of 1kg of potatoes and naan bread. He was trying to do a remote, week-long west to east traverse of this rugged wilderness solo, in three days. He didn't even make it half way before he had to be rescued! With all the resources available to bushwalkers (from the info on online forums like this, to clubs, and even free Epirbs from the cops in the Blue Mountains) to stuff up this badly isn't just embarrassing, it is deserving of punishment. Hopefully this $500 fine teaches him a lesson and he either learns a bit more about bushwalking, or keeps the hell out of wilderness areas from now on!

Trekker fined for alleged lack of preparation after becoming lost in the Blue Mountains
Sunday, 30 December 2012 05:41:06 PM
A man, who went on a three day trek in the Blue Mountains with only potatoes and naan bread in his pack, has been fined for his alleged lack of preparation.
On Wednesday afternoon (26 December 2012) a 29-year-old Victorian man was dropped off by friends at Newnes near Lithgow.
He had told them he planned to walk from there to Colo Heights. The 29-year-old estimated the trek would take three nights.
When he did not reach the intended rendezvous point at Colo Heights yesterday (Saturday 29 December 2012), his friends contacted police and a search began.
Polair 2 and 3 along with volunteers from VRA and SES assisted in the search
Police helicopter ’Polair 2” found him in the Wolgan Valley while its sister craft “Polair 3” was able to winch the 29-year-old to safety.
The Victorian man was found to have a minor ankle injury.
After declining treatment, the man was taken to Katoomba Police Station and spoken to about his time in the bush.
NSW Police Force Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit Commander Brenton Charlton said the man was issued at $500 infringement notice for “engage in activity that risks the safety of self/others”.
The fine was issued under the National Parks and Wildlife Regulations of 2009.
“When the man set out he had with him a kilo of potatoes and naan bread,” Inspector Charlton said.
“We believed the 29-year-old placed himself and the search teams at risk through his lack of planning and preparation, and through carrying inadequate provisions.
Police also allege his intended route, through remote terrain, would have been extremely difficult to complete safely and would have taken much longer than he had estimated.
“Getting the basics right with trekking is so easy – all people have to do is notify the police or other responsible person of their trip intention and carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
“It is a timely reminder of the dangers of bushwalking, particularly during the summer months, when heat exhaustion/dehydration etc can happen to even the most experienced.
“Making use of available technology such as the Personal Locator Beacon, together with some common sense trip preparation, could mean the difference between life or death,” he said.
Police have renewed their appeal to anyone entering the bush – even if for a short walk – to think before you TREK.
T – Take adequate supplies of food, water, navigation and first aid equipment.
R – Register your planned route and tell friends and family when you expect to return.
E – Emergency beacon (PLB's) are available free of charge from NSW Police Force and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
K – Keep to your planned route and follow the map and walking trails.
Visit http://www.trek.nsw.gov.au for more information.

[Macca81]

Good.

[ryantmalone]

It never ceases to amaze me stories like these.

Then again, I have seen people with less attempt more strenuous routes.

Back in the late 90's, we met a 50 something, gone grey, who had a very small rucksack, a hammock, and had set out from Walhalla a few weeks ago (we were at Mt Howitt), and he was surviving on Flour and water, and intended to do so for the six odd weeks it would take him to walk the Alps track from Walhalla to Canberra.

Apparently, this was his second time doing it.

At the end of the day though, I just think of it this way. Your life is your responsibility. It could be much worse than a $500 fine...

A sack of potatoes and some Naan bread though? Is this some new breed of lightweight hiker that we see before us?

[greyim]

How many spuds did he have left?

[michael_p]

Thanks Fatcanyoner.

I hope they do this more often. Maybe people will get the message, unfortunately my cynical side thinks they wont.

[jungle jim]

+1 It disturbs me when people go into the bush unprepared or inadequately clothed. Also those who plummet down canyons without any protective helmet. Pretty stupid people out there.

[jonnosan]

I think it's great that there will be some cute headlines about this which may reach a few novice hikers considering going beyond their comfort zone. But I find it hard to be too judgemental about the specific individual, since all of us will have pushed the boundaries at various points, and unfortunately you need to have a reasonable proficiency to actually know what sensible precautions are (c.f. the Dunning–Kruger effect).

I mean, I know I have done quite a few things that were (with the benefit of hindsight) much larger risks than I thought they were. For example, I have a metal rod in my left femur and some traumatic memories to remind me what the real risks of riding a motorbike are. Touch wood - nothing bad has happened to me while walking, and I do (usually) leave a route plan and always carry a beacon, but I have certainly had a few "adventures" just by following notes some random guy posted on the internet, some being best described as a (dare I say) "trackless exploration...about pushing the boundaries a bit, carrying nothing more than a map, compass, some water and a my regular lunch of a cheese and bacon roll".

Well actually my regular lunch is muesli bars, but I am getting mighty sick of them, so may have to give that cheese and bacon roll a try. And to mix it up a little, naan bread and potatoes .

[ryantmalone]

I think it's great that there will be some cute headlines about this which may reach a few novice hikers considering going beyond their comfort zone. But I find it hard to be too judgemental about the specific individual, since all of us will have pushed the boundaries at various points, and unfortunately you need to have a reasonable proficiency to actually know what sensible precautions are (c.f. the Dunning–Kruger effect).

I think that its easy for people like us, who have been doing this for 25 - 30 years, and have bad experiences under our belt, and lessons learned through being a novice at one time or another, to judge people like these, and pick on a complete lack of what we may call "common sense".

The thing that I need to sometimes remember is that to people who have no experience going bush, being outside is no different to spending a night in the city getting drunk with your mates. People don't quite understand the risks associated with going bush, how and why it gets colder than it does in most populated areas, what happens when you don't have enough water, and as in this case (which was the first thing I considered actually), the impact that eating nothing but potato may have on his blood sugars when hiking, as his liver creates more glucose, and the potato nullifies the effect of any insulin secreted by his pancreas. There's an interesting thought for all of those of you who are considering throwing a sack of potatoes in your pack next weekend!!

However... that's coming down to my experience that I have learned through being a novice at some point.

That said, doesnt matter the experience that you have, we all know the wilderness is a place to be respected, and with the access that we all have to the internet these days, and using simple search terms (such as this perfectly good example - http://goo.gl/WTDVG), I dont think there are many excuses for people who get stuck in situations like these.

[Strider]

In fairness, he did not ask to be rescued and he refused treatment for the ankle injury. Is it now unacceptable to self rescue on the basis that others might send an unnecessary rescue party? Unlikely he would have made it, but at least he was trying...

[cherryw]

This guy is an absolute moron and the people who dropped him off at the start also need to be fined.

[FatCanyoner]

In fairness, he did not ask to be rescued and he refused treatment for the ankle injury. Is it now unacceptable to self rescue on the basis that others might send an unnecessary rescue party? Unlikely he would have made it, but at least he was trying...

He might not have set off a beacon personally, but the fact that a rescue was initiated only occurred because he a) had an absolutely unrealistic plan for his walk, and b) had clearly failed to tell his friends a more appropriate time to call in the authorities.

Even as a beginner I understood that things go wrong, people run late, and I had no desire to cause a rescue to occur. I always told my wife when to call the cops (for a day walk it was usually early afternoon on the following day, for multi-day walks it could blow out much further). Like many loved ones -- especially those who don't do hard walking themselves -- I think she struggled with that a little, but she knew the ground rules and always stuck to them. These days I probably give myself even more time for contingencies. And at times I've had injuries occur on my trips -- definitely worse than the one this guy suffered -- but we've never required a rescue.

While the food captures this blokes stupidity, it is actually the other stuff -- his route planning and briefing of loved ones -- which were probably most reckless.

Too many people seem to think they can buy a Bear Grylls knife and wander off into the wild. Even 20 or 30 years ago many more of them would have died. People are *&%$#! lucky we have so many rescue choppers to fly around at a moments notice. It was less than 40 years ago that the first ever helicopter rescue occurred in the Blue Mountains. Perhaps people could learn a bit from how walkers before that time operated...

[michael_p]

Didn't take long: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/victorian-fined-for-trekking-underprepared-20121230-2c1ej.html

[colinm]

A Victorian hiker was winched out of the Wolgan valley after he was late out, some details here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-30/i ... sk/4447722 ... he reportedly had a 'minor' ankle injury.

Much more interesting is that he was fined for "lack of planning and preparation."

WT *$&#?

From the Blue Mountains LAC facebook page:

After declining treatment, the man was taken to Katoomba Police Station and spoken to about his time in the bush.

NSW Police Force Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit Commander Brenton Charlton said the man was today issued with a $500 infringement notice for “engage in activity that risks the safety of self/others”.

The fine was issued under the National Parks and Wildlife Regulations of 2009.

“When the man set out he had with him a kilo of potatoes and naan bread,” Inspector Charlton said.

“We believed the 29-year-old placed himself and the search teams at risk through his lack of planning and preparation, and through carrying inadequate provisions.

Police also allege his intended route, through remote terrain, would have been extremely difficult to complete safely and would have taken much longer than he had estimated.

The relevant regulation may be Clause 22(1)(d) of the NPWS Regulations http://bit.ly/10AuU3Q

22 Sporting, recreational and other activities
(1) A person must not in a park:
(d) engage in any activity or recreational pursuit that involves risking the safety of the person or the safety of other persons or damaging the environment.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units.

I find this quite troubling. Guy sounds like an idiot, but I don't see that it necessarily warrants a fine. Since he's a Victorian, I bet he doesn't contest the charge, so is a bit of a soft target. OTOH, as someone pointed out ... hunting in a NP inherently places others in the park at risk. Will the same charges be brought?

Reading the regulations a little further, I think the charge would fail under clause 22(3)(b):

(3) A person does not commit an offence under this clause: (b) if a plan of management for a park makes provision for the undertaking of an activity in the park, the person undertakes the activity in the park in accordance with the plan of management

So the coppers are taking a bit of a punt with this, I think ... to what end?

[Kinsayder]

This guy is an absolute moron and the people who dropped him off at the start also need to be fined.

Why stop there?

[ILUVSWTAS]

This guy is an absolute moron and the people who dropped him off at the start also need to be fined.

Why stop there?

Fine the guys parents for having him? Along with the Dr. that delivered him?? And maybe his grade 2 teacher as well for good measure?

Good grief our country is becoming too much like America.

[cherryw]

The trip was 150klm through the thick bush, even if on flat ground 50k a day is a lot to ask.

[jonnosan]

I have been looking at a topo trying to work out what route he may have been attempting. It looks closer to a 50K trek than 150K to me.

[matagi]

We really have insufficient facts to make any judgement regarding this person's actions. Even the police statement is lacking in detail.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Channel 7 Sunrise program, just mentioned this story and they think he should have been charged the cost of the rescue.

Apx 6 months ago we had the head search co-ordinator in central QLD speak at our bushwalk club meeting. I asked him about this subject, when we should call for a rescue.
He told us to never hesitate to call if you think your life is in danger or at great risk of in danger, he told us they have had many rescues that ended up costing more or taken a lot longer to find because, people where hesitating to call at the first opportunity. He told us, they much prefer to find people early before it's to late. He said the government has offered a service and not to be afraid to use it.

[gayet]

Phil, I doubt anyone would disagree with the co-ords statement. The problem is that walkers should take responibility for their own actions and BE PREPARED. That old Scout motto. The concern is not with calling in a rescue service but in not making adequate preparation to avoid the need. Simply because a service is provided doesn't mean it can be called upon at every slight inconvenience. And while this fellow didn't call it in himself, his preparation in advising friends when they should call in help (or not advising at all) appears to have been lacking. He may have been able to walk out later, he may have been OK with just spuds and naan, but those waiting had no way of knowing and they had no instructions from him as to what they should do.

That is part of the lack of preparation he has been fined for.

[Ent]

Interesting thread. Firstly the bubble brain media. Anything that does not involve sitting down watching their pap is a dangerous irresponsible activity unless you pull it off. In that case you are a hero to be put up in lights until something you attempt does not work out. No Sunrise and their endless ilk are just a waste if space.

Secondly, what is prepared? Ok this guy appears to be on the extreme low end of preparedness and an accident waiting to happen but numerous flame wars have raged over difference of opinions on this. Also what is adequate time for a walk? No even knowing the area I will leave it up to people more familiar to make the comment on that.

I fully support the rescue decision as it took safety first. Not so comfortable on the fine. Potentially anyone overdue could be fined. Been trapped behind say a raging river and having in the back of your mind a potential rescue call out might force motivation to attempt a crossing when it should not be done.

I frequently strike people that I consider underprepared but yet to see a rescue generated by them. Some epic journeys I see posted on this forum make me question posters' sanity but can not help notice that if they succeed people congratulate them but if they fail then put the boots in.

I would imagine that the Police have thought long and hard re this matter so hopefully they have acted correctly. Just hope that people are not encourage by the fear of a fine to not report their plans.

Cheers

[Snowzone]

We really have insufficient facts to make any judgement regarding this person's actions. Even the police statement is lacking in detail.

Exactly and it wouldn't be the first time the media has reported incorrectly. As others have already pointed out I think his biggest fault was not giving the party waiting for him clearer instructions on some leeway of when to call the police.
Personally I have no way of knowing this guys experience or ability so I cannot judge if he was capable of what he had planned.

I would imagine that the Police have thought long and hard re this matter so hopefully they have acted correctly. Just hope that people are not encourage by the fear of a fine to not report their plans.

Cheers

Are the police making an example of this guy or will this become a common action for anyone they deem ill prepared?

[ferozious]

If he was a hardened, experienced walker he could probably pull off that trip in three nights.

I'm sure that many hardend walkers who set out solo on the classic Blue Mountains three peaks walk could easily find themselves in a similar situation if they suffered an ankle injury or snake bite mid-trip.

Since I don't have all the facts available, I don't think I can appropiately comment on his level of unpreparedness. You would need to know his level of experience, and that's something that would be hard to assess. Perhaps he suffered the ankle injury and decided (appropriately) that it was too dangerous to continue or return so he waited for rescue to come.

[ferozious]

Of course, it would only be an appropriate decision to wait for rescue if he was in a convenient, easily visible rescue location. The report didn't give details on that.

He definately was negligent for not carrying a PLB with him. For several years, I never used to carry a PLB on my trips, but now that I know they are readily available for free hire in the Blue Mountains, I never set off without one.

[Kinsayder]

This guy is an absolute moron and the people who dropped him off at the start also need to be fined.

Why stop there?

Fine the guys parents for having him? Along with the Dr. that delivered him?? And maybe his grade 2 teacher as well for good measure?

Good grief our country is becoming too much like America.

You forgot the nurses.

[Earthling]

Pity hes not a member of this forum so we get get more than one side of the story...Im sure there is much more to tell than the trickle feed of info from the police.

[ferozious]

the "Blue Mountains Police Rescue" Facebook Page usually has more pictures and info on these events than the "Blue Mountains LAC" page. Both are quite good.

[colinm]

Here's the police press release, with more details. http://is.gd/kiYf4N

BWRS is supporting the regime of punitive fines. I think this is poor policy. People need rescue because of accidents or because of active ignorance (or some combination.) Adding a fine does nothing to address either.

The Police press release talks about the wisdom of carrying PLBs, which is all well and good, but there's nothing to suggest the current case would have been better if he'd had a PLB.

[hikingdude]

Who's to say the guy was an idiot?

I'm thinking he would have arrived at his destination just fine - albeit a bit late.

Let's not forget, he was not the one to call for help. Although his planning could have been better, I really don't think he should be fined for this misadventure.

Also, the police and rescue services aren't going to issue a press release that states they made an overzealous decision to rescue someone that didn't require rescuing, are they?

Despite this, I'd like to think if I was in this guy's position they'd ere on the side of caution rather than not.

[Rob A]

Didnt seem to be too hard to find. Didnt cost an arm and a leg to get him out. Didnt wreck any kit or killl anyone coming to save him. Didnt soak up ambulance hospital intensive or morgue time.
By comparison he doesnt seem to have caused anyone too much hurt at all. No ongoing pain on any front. Beats me.