DEH professionalism leads to rescue
May 14, 08:56 am by Editor
The rescue last week of a hiker lost in thick scrub in Deep Creek Conservation Park has demonstrated the commitment and dedication of the Department for Environment and Heritage personnel.
The 28-year-old man is believed to have lost consciousness after falling from a three-metre-high escarpment.
It is understood that the man had been walking the Heysen Trail from Cape Jervis to Victor Harbor when he took a wrong turn and started walking in thick scrub.
DEH marine scientists, undertaking marine mapping in coastal waters nearby, were alerted by smoke from a small fire.
DEH’s Chris Thomas said the scientists alerted local DEH rangers after noticing the smoke, hearing a whistle and yelling and seeing a red item of clothing the man was waving to attract attention.
“The scientists notified local rangers who were guided to the location of the man thanks to directions from the boat, via radio contact,” Mr Thomas said.
The injured man was equipped with a whistle, which helped the rangers to locate him.
The man had water but was located in dense bushes which were at least 2m high.
The man was taken immediately by ambulance to Flinders Medical Centre.
It took just one and a half hours from the time the marine scientists initially saw the smoke to when the rangers safely located the man, demonstrating the operation was carried out in a timely and professional manner.
“It was fortunate that the hiker was well prepared and able to raise the alert and that DEH officers were trained in radio communication and emergency response,” Mr Thomas said.
“I would like to congratulate all of the staff involved in the rescue for their quick thinking and immediate response,” he said.
Commenting is closed for this article.
Restoration of Freycinet's historic Cooks Hut Plans to rebuild more Snowy Mountains huts on the table