An 81-year-old Victorian man has been safely rescued today after becoming lost during a solo bushwalk on Mount Murchison in Tasmania’s rugged west coast region.
Search and Rescue teams located the elderly bushwalker around 2am on Wednesday after his family reported him overdue at approximately 8:30pm on Tuesday.
Inspector Andrew Hanson said the man’s preparation was crucial to his safe recovery.
“It’s pleasing that the man took steps to prepare, which enabled his family to raise the alarm when he became overdue,” he said.
“It’s a timely reminder for everyone of the dangers of the Tasmanian wilderness.”
The experienced hiker had informed family members of his expected return time, allowing them to alert authorities promptly when he failed to make contact.
Police have used the incident to reinforce safety guidelines for bushwalkers, particularly cautioning against solo hiking.
They recommend carrying sufficient warm clothing, food and emergency communication devices, with two-way messaging equipment being the preferred option.
Other essential preparation includes researching intended routes, ensuring trips match fitness levels, checking weather forecasts, and carrying fully-charged mobile phones with portable chargers.
While personal locator beacons are valuable safety tools, police say they only provide one-way communication, limiting their effectiveness in certain rescue scenarios.
