Buy him a PLB

I was going to say something similar Macca, in my books far from experienced

I believe it stated he was a week overdue, and was running low on water so he was carry more water then he need for the trip, if he was walking he would have been consuming a lot of water so he most likely had sufficient reserves. To me it sounds like he intended to camp at well four and hope someone would come along (at this time of year?) found no water so headed back to a well with water.

Running out of fuel though is an error you wouldn't think an experienced bushman would make but time and time again I read of "locals" who head off on trips and run out of fuel or get a flat and have no spare tire.

A EPIRB obviously is a very good idea, personally we carry EPRIB, GARMIN MINI, Satphone and HF radio. The HF & Satphones are good if it is not an immediate emergency situation.

Unfortunately these days many think carrying a EPIRB etc negates the need to be well prepared and self sufficient before venturing out into the unknown, they have total disregard for the rescuers who may be risking their own lives to save them.

Totally agree HKB, along with an EPIRB, we also carry a Sat. Phone when travelling remote. Also, the likelihood of someone coming along the CSR at this time of year is extremely unlikely.

Macca.

.
Macca, I agree about "other travellers".
To travel there if you don't really have to is as foolish as our "experienced bushman".

During my solo 2019 travels around central Oz, I had an Iridium sat phone and two 406 Mhz PLBs! One was my own, the other was provided with the hire vehicle.

My understanding is that you press the PLB button in a life threatening situation.

If one was bogged and had plenty of water and food you would maybe sit it out and perhaps hope the conditions would improve.

He was short of water and left the vehicle to look for it.

That’s sounds life threatening to me.

Cheers.

He left the vehicle on January 3rd - in the middle of summer too.

The medical emergency is that he needs his head read.

Don't think being short of water constitutes grave and imminent danger.
Might of a few years ago but with the advent of the plb/gps system the time taken to locate the person has dropped noticeable.
Always wondered whether I would hit the button if I broke my leg. Both legs yes. Snake bit ( gwardar) I would just give up. :)
Dave.

Wonder if there's any gold out that way Boobook. Does strange things to the brain. :)
Dave.

Hi Dean,

That may be so, but he would have been found a lot sooner had he activated a PLB/EPIRB. Anything could have happed to him in the time he became stranded and the time he was found. Once activated, his Geographic position would have been known immediately, without having to search many hundreds of square kilometres costing thousands of dollars & putting quite a few other peoples lives at risk to find him. What if he had been bitten by a snake? What if he had fallen and became incapacitated while walking back to Well 5? Yes, those things did not happen, but it does not excuse his foolhardy behaviour. It is just plain foolhardy not to carry at a very minimum PLB/EPIRB into remote areas. They are relatively inexpensive devices that can save your life.

Macca

Authorities could simply mandate that a working PLB or equivalent device be carried on particular roads or in particularly remote areas. Fines of double the cost of a PLB would make it a no-brainer to carry one. However they would then be accused by the usual suspects of "nanny state" over-regulation.

It is interesting that there is mandated safety equipment for offshore boating but nothing for remote land based travelling. There are great similarities between the two activities in the level of preparedness needed to deal with unplanned events.

The attached PDF from WA Dept of Transport clearly states what equipment is mandated. Something similar could be developed for remote land based travel. However it would be a lot more complicated to define “remote” for land based travel. Easy for marine - how far offshore.



John

Boating is a whole lot easier to police, the authority can just sit at boat ramps and check boaties . Not so easy with land travellers, think of the cost , it’s just not practical. And so many place ‘s you could come and go without being “caught”. most boats come back to the boat ramp, therefore most people comply.

Would rather be lost on land than at sea that’s for shore (-:

Mandating a PLB would severely impact the locals.

Michael H9,

I wouldn’t mind betting that every local has a mobile phone. For about the same price as a mobile phone, you can buy a PLB.

Macca.

Macca,

Most mobile phones will cost between $500 and more, with many well over $1000

You can buy a quality, GPS enabled PLB with a 10 year battery life for around $250.

In my books, those that do not travel without a PLB are well beyond help and do not take their own safety seriously.

There is that much publicity these days of people going missing and never to be found....why, well because I am ok mate, it will never happen to me.

It’s about time the authorities started charging those type of people for their wasted time, which would be into the tens of thousands of dollars.

While there are no laws on carrying any kind of device....the authorities cannot charge for such a rescue.

Why do the locals have mobile phones in remote areas when there is no service?

Simple enough to give locals an exemption IF that's deemed appropriate. Its easy to find reasons not to pursue regulation, at every level. That said I doubt the problem is so great as to demand across the board action.

Governments could help by occasional awareness campaigns - starting in schools as part of road safety learning. Water - tick, food - tick, fuel tick, PLB - tick....... Average Joe/Jo probably wouldn't know what a PLB was or wouldn't give it a second thought in 99% of cases.

Stephen,

Just did a quick “google” search, and at a quick glance, I counted 11 mobile phones for $300 or less. Samsung, Apple, Google, Huawei, Motorola. Whilst they are not new models, they are all brand new phones, not refurbished, from mainstream suppliers such as Telstra, Optus, jbhifi, etc.

Macca.

Michael H9,

Many remote communities have small cell networks with a small range, usually only a few kms from the centre of the community. Docker River is one that I have personal knowledge of, and I have read of many more from various posts on this and other forum sites. There is also a “coverage” map that shows where cell phone signals are available.

Macca.

Thanks Macca

It's not always the fancy exensive phones have the best range early last yr when sitting under a carport my neighbour with the latest fancy phone having 1 bar and waiting waiting waiting for it to increase I pulled out the old $150 Samsung flip phone which I still use 4 bars no issue same provider.

Also about 20yrs ago out of town a work mate had the bees knees of mobiles but no range dam my elcheapo had 1 bar so he used it cursing under his breath.

Heading into Wiluna a few years ago after a trip along the Gunbarrel my old Samsung flip phone started picking up 10 days worth of messages well before some flashier devices used by other people in the group

Sadly that now lives at the bottom of Lake Alexandrina.

I think the last iPhone to get a Telstra "blue tick" for better reception in rural and regional areas was the eight.

I use a similarly endorsed 6S bought as a refurbished phone. An oldie but a goodie.

Cheers

We actually look forward to having no signal , peace and quiet, it’s great to be away from it all. We do carry a sat phone (And spot3) so have got communication if we need it.
Anyway back to theOP, the guy survived,He must have had a reasonable idea how to look after himself. Silly situation or not!
Cheers Shane

Indeed, there is cell service in plenty of remote communities, though nothing between them.

Last year, while heading west on the Gary Junction Road, I had great Telstra service in and near Papunya, Mount Liebig, and Kintore. By the time I got to Kiwirrkurra, I had been spoiled and was disappointed they had no service, LOL.

Amazingly, I later survived the 10 days west-east on the AB without any internet access. :)