At 7:00 pm on Saturday 27/5/17 Tasmania Police received a mobile telephone call from a 41 year old Victorian man who had become lost on Mount Amos. He explained that he had lost the track whilst descending from the summit and had suffered several minor falls. It was dark at the time and the man’s phone battery was nearly flat so he was told to stay where he was and turn his phone off until he could hear the rescue helicopter. The phone was his only light source, Tasmania Police say.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated by Tasmania Police Search and Rescue and arrived on scene a short while later. As instructed the man turned his phone on which was easily seen by the aircrew on night vision goggles. A flight paramedic was winched to the man and he was subsequently winched from the scene with only minor injuries.
Tasmania Police Search and Rescue would like to remind people embarking on short bushwalks to be prepared. Ideally a PLB and a torch are essential items to ensure a timely rescue. However many short walks such as Mt. Amos have good mobile phone coverage and on such walks a mobile phone is sufficient as long as information is available that there is good phone coverage. Walkers must ensure their phone is fully charged and consideration given to carrying an external power bank as cold weather, and high phone usage such as taking photographs rapidly depletes battery power. It is advisable to download the free Emergency + app which provides coordinates to provide rescuers with an exact location.
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