Drama in the Goldfields

Very true Was hardly life threatening at the time and as you say a satfone would have got it fixed without the cost and trouble that activating the Epirb caused.

From the news report, "The man's location device sent a message with coordinates to a friend, who alerted police". I don't think an EPIRB was the first device activated, it sounds more than likely a Spot.

Isn't that the brilliance of our emergency services in Australia, we have one ready to respond, no questions asked.

How often do seemingly innocuous happenings turn into something more life threatening, simply because people don't always appreciate that it can all go pear shaped very quickly, including a flat battery in a remote location.

This had a good outcome, bravo to our emergency personnel!

Cheers, Baz-The Landy

Don't you mean that the media believed they did. Media HAH

No Phil!

Read the article, it was a direct quote from the police officer involved.

Key words are "...where the people had the right equipment..." and "... It just made our job so much easier."

That would suggest to me that they (the police) thought the devices were used appropriately.

Snr Sgt Soutar also stated in another report (see the Perth Now link on the original article) "I can’t stress the importance of being prepared when travelling in remote parts of the state, including carrying some form of GPS-based emergency distress beacon and the quick resolution to both of these incidents highlights the difference such beacons can have.”

Off course you could interpret it differently - but I can't see how!

Cheers

Anthony

Hi Anthony

I do believe there is a place for both, including 4WD HF. and that people should be told about the benefits and short comings of both.

Phil

I have deleted my response to your last post as you edited it prior to me submitting my response.

However, based on your unedited response, read the article as it is - don't add your own twist on it.

Cheers

Anthony

Have a nice day

Tks Phil, same to you too ??

The point of this exercise was to instill the message to people in the goldfields to have some form of communication when out bush. I live in Kalgoorlie and the number of costly searches lately that have occurred is amazing. When the local ABC interviewed the Police who attended it was a different story what was in the paper. The way he spoke is that the chap had a spot or something similar (I have one and I always use it friends and relatives think it is excellent and I am prepared to pay the annual fee for my safety). When it was activated his friend in Busselton notified the police and they notified the police in that area the coordinates and all ended well apart from the unfortunate plane mishap which suffered minor damage to one wing.

Apologies this was in our local paper!

I'm a fan of a smoking fire and heliograph as backup myself. Also a whistle.

Yeah, Spot (please excuse pun) on Greg.

The first guy used a Spot (or similar device) to let his mate know he was stranded and his location. Hey sh1t happens. Going by the reports he didn't activate an EPIRB.
The search plane then had an electrical fault which forced it to land. As has been said, that could have happened where a landing site wasn't quite so suitable and who knows what tragic outcome that may have had. These guys then activated an EPIRB.
All ended well, no serious injury or death.

Game over.

Cheers
Pop

It's a pack of cards for me Sigmund. :)
Dave