Emergency services in New South Wales rescued a 65-year-old man at Kosciuszko National Park after he activated his Personal Locator Beacon or PLB–an emergency beacon which gives off GPS coordinates–on Tuesday night before being located by the Southcare Rescue Helicopter on Wednesday morning.
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It's renewed calls by emergency service for hikers and travellers to hire a PLB from visitor centres, while also planning their trip ahead and providing details of their plans to park staff, family and friends.
The man started his planned, multi-day bushwalk alone in the Kosciuszko National Park Main Range at 1:00pm on Tuesday, making it to Mount Tate before he became disorientated and lost his path.
Having become lost in 'Rolling Grounds', an area north west of Guthega, he activated his PLB at 11pm where the signal was received by the Rescue Co-Ordination Centre who notified NSW police.
With weather preventing a rescue helicopter from joining the search, Jindabyne Police patrolled the trails until late at night but couldn't find the man, who slept overnight amongst rocks.
At 9.30am on Wednesday 1 February 2017, the Southcare Rescue Helicopter located the hiker and he was flown to Perisher Valley before being treated by paramedics and being debriefed by police.
The man was cold and tired but otherwise uninjured and Queanbeyan Police Duty Officer Inspector Michael Handley said the incident highlighted the importance of people registering their hiking details and hiring a PLB when entering Kosciuszko National Park.
"Regardless of experience, any person can require assistance in the mountains and PLB's are the only reliable method of signalling for help," Mr Handley said.
