Another rescue in gorge

By Lachlan Ellis

SES volunteers and Victoria Police have completed at least the third rescue this year at Lerderderg Gorge, with a call issued for hikers to ensure they are well prepared and informed before they begin their walk.

Emergency services were notified at around 6:45 pm on Sunday 8 May that two hikers had become lost, after wandering off marked tracks in the dark.

Deputy Controller of Assets and Facilities at the Bacchus Marsh SES Unit, Keith Muller, said hikers often “greatly underestimate the degree of difficulty of the walks”.

“We were called to an “Assist Police RE Lost Hiker” in the Lerderderg Gorge and met up with VicPol at Mackenzies Flat picnic area at 6.50 pm. There were two people lost and their location not certain, but we were expecting them to be close to Emergency Marker LER504. Three members walked in to the marker at which the walking track ends, then walked upstream criss-crossing the river for approximately 1.5 kilometres. At this point it was decided to call it off at 10.30 pm as the risk was becoming too great,” Mr Muller told the Moorabool News.

“VicPol AirWing were then called to determine the location of the lost persons in relation to our position, and it turned out we were within 200 metres of them. Airwing thought winching much too great a risk for them considering our position, so we continued to meet up with the two lost persons. It was then a two-hour walk out back to the picnic area reaching this at 1 am.”

Mr Muller said there have been “at least three to four rescues” in the Lerderderg Gorge this year, “and about the same in the Werribee Gorge”, with “close to 15 total rescues over a 12-month period”.

But these can be avoided, he said, if hikers make sure they’re fully prepared before venturing out onto a new track.

“​Hikers need to research the walks better using Australian web sites – the last two rescues, hikers were using American hiking trails apps. They need to read the Parks Vic signs rather than a glance, have quality maps or apps, be better prepared with a backpack with plenty of water, snacks, food, torch, basic first aid including snake bandages, a power bank to charge phones, spare clothing, et cetera,” Mr Muller said.

“Let someone know and set expected times for returning, take note of the Emergency Markers as you go, and most importantly: if it looks wrong, it probably is.”

The two hikers were thankfully uninjured, with the SES’ main concern being the chilly night they were hiking in, especially given the hikers’ light clothing and lack of supplies.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-05-17/12

in the 17 May 2022 edition
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pick up a paper around your town.