Bushwalkers who set off emergency beacon in Tasmanian wilderness located
21 Aug 2023
Two bushwalkers who were reported missing in Tasmania’s remote south-west on Monday have been located, police say.
Police said the men, aged in their 60s, activated a personal locator beacon just after 9pm in the Loddon Range area.Â
Ground crews were dispatched but could not cross the Surprise River, which runs between the Lyell Highway and the search area.
Crews were able to get across on Tuesday morning and searched on the ground with assistance from the Westpac rescue helicopter.
On Tuesday evening, Tasmania Police said “about 5pm this evening the men were sighted by the Westpac rescue helicopter”.
“As the terrain and weather is too challenging for a winching rescue operation, a ground crew is now on the way to reach the men,” Sergeant Damian Bidgood said in a statement.
“This is a fantastic outcome for everyone involved. It will take several hours for the search and rescue team, accompanied by paramedics, to reach the men.
“When the team reaches the men and assesses the situation a decision will be made as to whether they stay overnight at the location and walk out in the morning,” he said.
Temperatures in the search area have been relatively mild for this time of year, with nearby Lake St Clair registering an overnight low of 5 degrees Celsius.
