A 28 year old woman from Victoria has been safely retrieved from the Overland Track today, after activating a personal locator beacon yesterday evening.
The woman’s PLB was activated about 5:30pm, showing her to be close to 2km south of Kitchen Hut.
As weather conditions were poor and helicopter access was not possible, a team of police, ambulance and SES personnel were deployed on foot last night, and located the woman with an injured ankle about 1:30am.
The group spent the night at Kitchen Hut, before assisting the woman back out this morning.
Sergeant Leighton Riggall said the woman was well prepared for her venture.
“She had appropriate equipment and food, and did all the right things, managing her injury appropriately while waiting for help,” he said.
“She registered her walk and added the details about her intended plans to her PLB registration, which helped us as emergency services to coordinate a response.”
“The weather was challenging overnight, with the rescue crew encountering wind, rain, snow and cold conditions.”
Bush walking safety tips:
• Ensure you’re prepared with appropriate equipment, clothing, footwear, food and water and a first aid kit.
• Research the intended trip and ensure it is within your abilities and fitness level, check the expected weather forecast, and have a plan.
• Let someone know before you go, and ensure someone knows your route and expected return time.
• Always carry a fully charged mobile phone and a PLB, and consider a portable charger to extend battery life.
