HOBART, Tasmania: A Chinese tourist died in Tasmania after her hiking group became stranded in a national park on Sept 26.
The group, consisting of four Chinese nationals, were hiking in Cradle Mountain National Park when a nearby group found them to be facing difficulties and struggling from the cold.
The other group then alerted emergency services at about 3.30pm on Sept 26, said the police, and rescuers located the hikers in distress in the late afternoon that same day.
As extreme weather conditions prevented a helicopter from being deployed, rescuers and the hiking group camped overnight in the park, getting off the mountain only on the morning of Sept 27.
The police confirmed that a woman from the group had died, while the other members of the group were in good condition.
“This is a tragic outcome for a group of visitors to Tasmania. Unfortunately, they were not prepared for bushwalking and found themselves overwhelmed by the extreme weather conditions,” said Inspector Steve Jones.
He said that the woman was a friend of the family she was hiking with, adding that the group did not have appropriate equipment such as a personal locator beacon, leaving them unable to call for assistance when they first realised they needed help.
“Fortunately, another group of walkers found them and rendered valuable assistance with the limited supplies they had,” he said.
The Tasmanian police have since issued an urgent warning for others venturing into the outdoors.
They advised bushwalkers to ensure they have sufficient resources such as warm clothing, food and emergency communication devices even if they have only a daytime walk planned. Other necessary equipment include a map and torch, clothing and footwear to suit any conditions, a waterproof jacket and a first-aid kit, they said.
The Tasmanian authorities said that weather conditions in the alpine areas can change quickly, making it hard for rescue helicopters or search and rescue teams to enter remote areas. - The Straits Times/ANN
