Two men showing signs of hypothermia have been rescued from Tasmania’s south-west wilderness after getting into trouble while kayaking on the Huon River.
The Queensland pair set off the alarm around 1:20pm on Friday by activating their personal locator beacon (PLB).
A rescue helicopter crew found them up a steep cliff north-west of the Cracroft River junction at 3:20pm.
They were flown to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
The pair had been kayaking on the Huon River since Monday, deep in the state’s remote south-west.
Police said heavy rain and a rising river forced them to abandon their kayaks and walk to shore after being immersed in cold water.
Both men were very fatigued, but were otherwise not injured.
Sergeant Bernard Peters said the men had walked through the bush for some time after leaving their kayaks behind.
“This incident proves once again the importance of being prepared for venturing out in the Tasmanian wilderness,” Peters said.
“Things can – and often do go wrong – and you need to be equipped for an emergency.”
Sergeant Peters said the men had carried the right gear for the conditions but were in “serious danger of succumbing to hypothermia”.
“Thankfully in this situation, the men had sufficient equipment for the difficult conditions and were equipped with a personal location device which meant we were able to accurately pinpoint their location when they called for our help,” he said.
The two kayaks have not yet been found. Anyone who locates them is asked to report it to police on 131 444.
