Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania

[Lophophaps]

It's bad enough on land in strong winds. At sea the varying waves coupled with changes in altitude make for a very challenging air rescue. This was detailed in Fatal storm, about the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Six people died. Winds were up to about 90 knots, waves were typically 12 metre with the biggest ones about 20 metre. Any sailor or chopper crew that attempts a rescue in such conditions deserves gratitude and respect. Land rescues may not be much easier at times. I dips me lid.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Police Media



Sunday, 16 February 2014 - 11:10pm

A call for assistance was made by a female Chinese bush walker in the Fluted Cape area of Bruny Island on Sunday afternoon. The walker had set off earlier in the day but had become disorientated in dense bushland from the Slide Walking Track at Adventure Bay.

Police were assisted by Bruny Island SES and Parks & Wildlife Rangers. Foot searches were planned initially but due to a broad search area and limited daylight, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was required for the search.

Helicopter crew were able to speak with the walker by phone and located her soon after. The Helicopter crew needed to winch three times to recover the walker as the unladen winch cable was unable to penetrate the thick vegetation. The walker was flown to Adventure Bay before the Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to an urgent medical condition at Flowerpot.


On Tuesday 18 February 2014

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the Frankland Range in the state’s south west for an injured walker.

A 57 year old man from Victoria injured himself in the vicinity of Double Peak. The man was a member of a walking party of five. Contact was made via satellite phone and the helicopter was dispatched to assist.

The helicopter flew to the area and extracted the man. He was flown to Hobart in a stable condition.

[stepbystep]

On Tuesday 18 February 2014

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the Frankland Range in the state’s south west for an injured walker.

A 57 year old man from Victoria injured himself in the vicinity of Double Peak. The man was a member of a walking party of five. Contact was made via satellite phone and the helicopter was dispatched to assist.

The helicopter flew to the area and extracted the man. He was flown to Hobart in a stable condition.

Lucky for him, wouldn't want to be up there tomorrow!!

[pazzar]

On Tuesday 18 February 2014

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the Frankland Range in the state’s south west for an injured walker.

A 57 year old man from Victoria injured himself in the vicinity of Double Peak. The man was a member of a walking party of five. Contact was made via satellite phone and the helicopter was dispatched to assist.

The helicopter flew to the area and extracted the man. He was flown to Hobart in a stable condition.

Lucky for him, wouldn't want to be up there tomorrow!!

Seems to be a popular spot at the moment. Another group is heading in on Saturday too.

[stepbystep]

On Tuesday 18 February 2014

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the Frankland Range in the state’s south west for an injured walker.

A 57 year old man from Victoria injured himself in the vicinity of Double Peak. The man was a member of a walking party of five. Contact was made via satellite phone and the helicopter was dispatched to assist.

The helicopter flew to the area and extracted the man. He was flown to Hobart in a stable condition.

Lucky for him, wouldn't want to be up there tomorrow!!

Seems to be a popular spot at the moment. Another group is heading in on Saturday too.

This the HWC group? Makes it 5 groups I know of this year.

[pazzar]

On Tuesday 18 February 2014

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the Frankland Range in the state’s south west for an injured walker.

A 57 year old man from Victoria injured himself in the vicinity of Double Peak. The man was a member of a walking party of five. Contact was made via satellite phone and the helicopter was dispatched to assist.

The helicopter flew to the area and extracted the man. He was flown to Hobart in a stable condition.

Seems to be a popular spot at the moment. Another group is heading in on Saturday too.

This the HWC group? Makes it 5 groups I know of this year.

Could be - I know forum member Mowser is on it, athough he is from Launceston I think. Still could be the same group.

[ILUVSWTAS]

HWC trip going in March

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

On Wednesday 19 February 2014 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend the South West for a lost walker.

Phone contact was made with the lost walker (24 year old male from Germany) and it was established he was in the vicinity of “Lots Wife” a mountain peak near Mt Anne.

The helicopter flew to the area and after approximately 40 minutes located the male. He was stranded on the northern side of Lots wife in a steep section of track. The helicopter landed nearby and the crew walked to the stranded walker’s location.

The male was guided back to the helicopter without any injuries.

[Scottyk]

The male was guided back to the helicopter without any injuries.

Sounds like he could have just been guided back to his tent

[ILUVSWTAS]

The male was guided back to the helicopter without any injuries.

Sounds like he could have just been guided back to his tent

Indeed! This is the problem with guide books and waypoints that has been discussed at length on another thread.

Lots wife for a semi experienced walker is very simple. Navigation should not be an issue. But for someone relatively new to the game, well here we are.......

Chapmans guide book makes it sound relatively straight forward, which it is, as I said for a relatively experienced walker.

[Ent]

The male was guided back to the helicopter without any injuries.

Sounds like he could have just been guided back to his tent

Chapmans guide book makes it sound relatively straight forward, which it is, as I said for a relatively experienced walker.

Problem with the author or the reader?

[dplanet]

How about a combination of all means!

[wander]

My observation is Chapman is very clear when it is sketchy. Read his chapter on Federation. And when he does not tell you much you must appreciate that it is up to you/your group to sort it out.

[Overlandman]

From the Advocate

http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/213 ... ton/?cs=87

Helicopter transports snake-bitten bushwalker from South Preston
March 9, 2014, 5 p.m.

A BUSHWALKER bitten by a snake in South Preston has arrived at the North-West Regional Hospital after being transported by a rescue helicopter.

More information to come.
Bitten twice on the hand by a Tiger Snake!

[Overlandman]

Well done to all involved
Hope she is okay
Regards Overlandman

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

At approximately 9:40am on Thursday 13/3/14 Tasmania Police Search and Rescue received a request for assistance from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Three walking group leaders working as tour guides had activated a PLB at Wild Dog Creek when one of the eight clients of the group collapsed and became seriously ill. The group leaders had all received wilderness first aid training and immediately began CPR on the 56 year old Victorian woman.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated with two Police Air Crewman and an Intensive Care Paramedic which was able to land at the site due to the existence of a helipad used by the Parks and Wildlife Service.
The woman was treated at the scene by the Intensive Care Paramedic then carried in a wilderness stretcher for a short distance to the helicopter. From here she was flown to the Launceston General Hospital in a critical condition.
The tour group, Australian Wilderness Adventures was very well organised and provided exceptional remote medical care to the woman under very demanding circumstances. In addition to activating the PLB they were equipped with satellite phones and provided ongoing situation reports to the helicopter crew whilst they were travelling to the scene.

[Tortoise]

Well done to all involved
Hope she is okay
Regards Overlandman

+1

[Tortoise]

From the Advocate

http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/213 ... ton/?cs=87

Helicopter transports snake-bitten bushwalker from South Preston
March 9, 2014, 5 p.m.

A BUSHWALKER bitten by a snake in South Preston has arrived at the North-West Regional Hospital after being transported by a rescue helicopter.

More information to come.
Bitten twice on the hand by a Tiger Snake!

I don't suppose anybody has an update on this?

[Overlandman]

There was a bit of a story in the Advocate during the week, The man (34) was from Smithton & walking near the Leven River, (not sure if it was the Penguin / Cradle Trail), he slipped & fell onto the Tiger Snake and was bitten twice on the hand, a flight paramedic was winched down & treated the man before he was winched out of the area & flown to the North West Regional Hospital in a stable condition.
Regards Overlandman

[north-north-west]

I was very nearly in the same position today, although I have my doubts as to whether a signal would have gotten out from where that *&%$#! snake was.
Been seeing heaps of snakes all summer but this was the only one who didn't want to share the track or make way for anyone else. Longest Tiger I've seen for a while although skinny; maybe the bad mood was just hunger . . .

[Ambience]

Smithton man is a paramedic I work with So he knew first aid obviously, and applied pressure/immobilisation technique. He spent quite a few nights in hospital, but is out and ok now I believe!

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

Tasmania’s helicopter rescue service has been busy today. The Tasmania Police Westpac Rescue Helicopter this morning flew to Pelion Hut in the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park to return an injured bushwalker to Hobart.

The helicopter was then tasked to rescue an injured walker from Eldon Peak near Queenstown. The 58 year old man from Hobart had fallen some days ago and injured his back. After a period of rest he was still unable to walk and used a satellite phone to alert rescue authorities.

A second helicopter has also been tasked to Tasmania’s South Coast in relation to a Personal Locator Beacon that had been detected in the area.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

At 1:pm on Thursday 27/3/14 Tasmania Police Search and rescue received a call for assistance from a 55 year old Victorian man in Southwest Tasmania. Than man was walking the South Coast track with 3 companions when he fell seriously ill at Little Deadmans Bay and was unable to continue.
The Westpac Rescue helicopter was sent to the area and landed near the campsite where the man was waiting. Due to his condition he was unable to walk to the helicopter and was therefore winched from his location and flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

[Overlandman]

On Sunday 30/3/14 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated to Wineglass Bay where a 57 year old Victorian man had fallen ill and was unable to walk. He was subsequently collected and flown to Coles Bay.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

On Sunday 6 April 2014 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to attend Deal Island in Bass Strait to airlift a male volunteer on the island who was suffering from a medical condition.

The helicopter flew to the island and transported the male to the Launceston General Hospital.

He is in a satisfactory condition.

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust

At 7:20am on Wednesday 9/4/14 Tasmania Police Search and Rescue received a call for assistance from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) had been activated in the Travellers Range east of Lake St. Clair by a 73 year old Tasmania man who was suffering from hypothermia. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated but was unable to reach the area on the first flight due to low cloud and thick fog in the area.
At 11:00am the helicopter made a second attempt and was able to reach the area. The helicopter could not land but the paramedic was able to access the patient by hover exit. A short while later the patient was assisted into the helicopter whilst it was hovering.
The patient was flown to Hobart in a stable condition and did not require hospitalisation.

[north-north-west]

I love that. 73 and it sounds like he was out in the Travellers alone. Good on him. I hope I can still do that sort of thing at that age.

[Strider]

I love that. 73 and it sounds like he was out in the Travellers alone. Good on him. I hope I can still do that sort of thing at that age.

On Facebook it was stated that the rest of his group are continuing their walk.

[north-north-west]

I love that. 73 and it sounds like he was out in the Travellers alone. Good on him. I hope I can still do that sort of thing at that age.

On Facebook it was stated that the rest of his group are continuing their walk.

Oh well, at least he was out there.

[Strider]

If I'm able to walk 5 days in that kind of terrain at his age, I will be amazed!

[Overlandman]

From Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust
2nd Rescue was on the track

At 7:50am on Monday 7/4/14 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated to a property near Ouse. A 59 year old man from Bronte Park had fallen from a horse and suffered serious injuries. He was subsequently flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The helicopter was then immediately sent to Freycinet Peninsula where a 68 year old man had injured his knee on the Hazards track several kilometres from the car park and was unable to walk. The paramedic was able to access the patient by exiting the aircraft whilst hovering. The patient was then later winched into the aircraft before being flown back to the car park and seeking further medical attention.