Helicopter Rescues in Tasmania "2"

[ben.h]

More:
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 7596663168

[north-north-west]

Totally unprepared for the SW, basically. And yes, whatever guidebook they were using certainly gave them the wrong impression.

[ofuros]

They made a choice to continue on....it was the wrong choice.
They probably should of had a plan b if the conditions/ terrain didn't suit them & explored an easier area.

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[creeping_moses]

I often joke that I wouldn't pull the pin on a PLB unless it was a 'get a helicopter now or certain death' kinda deal as I really don't want to be on the front page of The Mercury for it. Smiled to myself when I saw this today.

[north-north-west]

I didn't make the front page. Obviously my evacuation wasn't dramatic enough.

[DanShell]

I didn't make the front page. Obviously my evacuation wasn't dramatic enough.

I think the nice clear skies and scenic backdrop that has been captures may have something to do with this one being so well publicised

[Mountain Rocket]

And the story from last week about the man being stuck out there. We can't all be that lucky

[JohnR]

Perhaps the first point is that the Mt Anne Circuit is not really a "bushwalk".

Love the photos of the "rescue". SW Tassie at its best.

[Strider]

If its not a bushwalk, what is it??

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[devoswitch]

Cmon Strider you know very well it's a rockwalk

[Strider]

Cmon Strider you know very well it's a rockwalk

I haven't done it yet!

[north-north-west]

Cmon Strider you know very well it's a rockwalk

From High Camp Hut until you're down by Piccones, it's about 90% rock - a lot of boulders, a lot of scrambling, some very steep, rough bits.
Fun, but not the easiest track in the state.

[devoswitch]

Haha I was just making up a word for bushwalks in relatively treeless areas with plenty of rocks!
I haven't done the circuit yet either but I've been up Mt Anne and got some good views of most of it and it sure is rocky

[stepbystep]

Compared to the Eldons, the Anne Circuit is a positive herbfield a few folk have been pulled out of here in the last cpl years too....yikes!

Seriously though, walkers have become far too lackadaisical in their approach. Photography trophy hunters and abel baggers are big culprits I reckon. Also poor advice from experienced walkers to newbies...

[stepbystep]

A couple shots of the chopper pulling out an injured man at Frenchmans. His case was certainly one I'd heap zero criticism on...just bad luck, and bad timing....

Attachments

[north-north-west]

You were near Barron Pass? That shot of the chopper over Sharlands is brilliant.

Compared to the Eldons, the Anne Circuit is a positive herbfield a few folk have been pulled out of here in the last cpl years too....yikes! Photography trophy hunters and abel baggers are big culprits I reckon.

[stepbystep]

You were near Barron Pass? That shot of the chopper over Sharlands is brilliant.

Lucky the focus was sharp...just popped out of exploring the bowl behind Sharlands. Really sad knowing it was a new friend in distress

[aloftas]

Interesting. What was reported up here was that he used his mobile phone with a failing battery.

I would have thought, if that was the case, the epirb debate is redundant.

oh I have missed you guys...

[Strider]

Interesting. What was reported up here was that he used his mobile phone with a failing battery.

I would have thought, if that was the case, the epirb debate is redundant.

oh I have missed you guys...

Different rescue.

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[biggbird]

Saw this video posted on FB today. Somebody mentioned a TV series which might be airing in December... Hadn't seen it discussed elsewhere!

[flyfisher]

great dedication, that service. Well done.

[north-north-west]

There's some brilliant footage there. Why didn't you make this one, Dan?

I love the fact they're getting more recognition for what they do, but have to admit some concerns about how the filming might affect the service.

[stepbystep]

There's some brilliant footage there. Why didn't you make this one, Dan?

I love the fact they're getting more recognition for what they do, but have to admit some concerns about how the filming might affect the service.

It was made by a very talented friend of mine who specialises in aerial/drone stuff. Tom Waugh at Ignite Digi, good Tassie success story. I don't have the equipment for such smooth high resolution aerials.
Haven't heard of any TV series in production . . .

[north-north-west]

Very talented indeed. Good to hear about another local making it.

[Nuts]

Odd. Great footage, great service (as we all know) so why?

[icefest]

Don't know all the information yet, but from the sounds of it.. Send them the bill for the chopper. I guess a little more public education surrounding the use of EPIRBS/PLBS might be in order. I wonder how these two would feel if they found out that whilst they were getting choppered back to their car, someone in dire need of medical attention was left waiting because the chopper was in use for them..

That just shifts the cost of rescues towards health care. There will be less rescues in total but groups like these will press on though conditions which are dangerous and then set the plb of when they break a leg.
End result: more difficult rescue, health care costs, increased risk of death.

Prevention is better. Tell people that it's not only the weather (as the entrance sign says) but that there are unfenced rock climbing sections that will cause permanent disability if fallen on.

Not all people can be persuaded and we need to live with that.

[Overlandman]

From the Examiner

THE rescue helicopter was required to airlift a man to hospital after he suffered a chest condition while walking a remote wilderness track.

The bushwalker had ventured onto the South Coast Track with his son on Tuesday but suffered a medical episode.

Tasmania Police said the pair stopped at the Louisa Creek camp ground where they met track workers and monitored the man's condition overnight.

The man’s condition did not improve and police were called via satellite phone.

The rescue helicopter took the man and his son back to Hobart on Wednesday.

Police said the man was now in a stable condition.

[GRLillistone]

It's one thing if someone suffers a heart attack out bush, but clearly too many people who have been rescued from locations across Australia got into trouble from any number of easily avoidable factors, but commonly the three no-brainers:
1. Didn't know how to navigate
2. Hadn't considered climatic conditions
3. Weren't prepared with suitable clothing and equipment
Like other aspects of life, these people should prepare themselves before stepping off and take responsibility for their actions.

[Azza]

It's one thing if someone suffers a heart attack out bush, but clearly too many people who have been rescued from locations across Australia got into trouble from any number of easily avoidable factors, but commonly the three no-brainers:

I think a major issue and is quite evident reading many posts on this forum is that the rise of smartphones with inbuilt GPS capability is giving people a "false" sense of security to go forth into the wilderness.
These devices are not designed with a high-degree of reliability compared to a PLB, Spot or dedicated GPS. The major issue is that battery life on a smartphone is poor and can be unpredictable.
People love their phone so much and get a wizbang navigation app and think they're set to go anywhere.

Secondly in Tasmania - what I call a track is probably not what someone from interstate or overseas calls a track.

Lack of experience - 'if I'd know it was going to be like this......'

[north-north-west]

Secondly in Tasmania - what I call a track is probably not what someone from interstate or overseas calls a track.

Yes, too many people expect something like the Overland or at least the Murchison track, when often what exists is a faint narrow pad (occasionally with bits of tape here and there) through what is sometimes thick head-high scrub. Or a cairned route through boulders.