'Test drive' led to an outback death

Very Sad.

I suppose it raises questions and suggestions of what to do in that situation.

Take plenty of water.

Make sure the fuel tank is full before you go.

Stay with the car.

If you have fuel you can idle the motor for hours to run the A/C and get some relief from the heat.

Build a fire to signal.

Take flares.

Set fire to the spare to send out a smoke signal.

There must be penty of others. I'm just guessing.

Jim.

Yep - a damned shocker - awareness and education is the key of course, but this can't be forced on people - they have to pick it up at their discretion. Those that are not "in the picture" will suffer .... but that's anormalaspect of life ... happens in all walks of life, all the time.

Just read the news article in full.

(1) No water

(2) No UHF Radio

(3) No nothing

= No brains.

Just unbelievable in this day and age.

Reminds me of an incident 4 yrs ago at the Copper Smelter at the back of Arkarola Village.

We ran into a couple of German Tourists (M/F) who had hired one of those Britts type Troopy campers.

Stated it was their intention to head north to Cooper Pedy and then across the Simpson to Brisbane.

Only problem being their booked departure flight was in five days time and they were concerned that they may be cutting it a bit fine time wise..

Also, No radio, no recovery gear, No extra jerries of fuel and/or water not even a shovel of any kind. Just them, their personal gear, some food and what ever water they were carrying.

We suggested that maybe 5 days including their book in procedures at Brisbane airport maybe not enough as it was realistic tt allow 3/4 days for the Simpson itself.

No problems Mrs German Tourist says and whips out a tourist type brochure map thingy and gives us a lecture on distances , road conditions , time and motion.

We just said have a nice day and do your best.

What more can you say

I mentioned it before when this story was first brought up but there are things that arnt quite right with the story. Firstly he was driving from Arkaroola village to wilpena which would be a fairly well travelled route. Even if he was off the main track I cant imagine it would have been to far to walk to get some kind of help in a majour tourist destination area of the flinders. Secondly to collapse and die after only 7km suggests there was something else wrong as most people dont just keel over and die after 2-3 hours walking even in the middle of summer.
I can be corrected on any of my points as I have only heard fairly breif details

What a shame.
Those tracks are quite well used too, by comparison to some.
With sufficient water for a few days, he would have been fine, wouldn't have even needed food.

What a waste

David O

I hope I don't come across as too heartless but over 200,000 people die on Boxing Day, and one guy dies doing what he wants to do in Australia - I can't get too teary over this one.

I have a feeling the bloke tried to drive the Echo Camp Backtrack which is pretty steep in places. Not the sort of track for a soft roader. Our Xtrail does not wander off into the sticks. For that we have two proven trucks.

Have said this before....maybe each 4x4 sold in this country should have a broshure with it explaining the do's and dont's of the vehicle sold....but then again you cant save people from themselves

Yes it will happen again in this country you can put money on it, there has been enough literature and news stories obout deaths in remote areas that all who live here should be aware of it.

Agree, Willem - Amazing how many people buy a 4 wheel drive and think it can go just anywhere, a limitations brochure should be sold with the car and a few suggestions about joining a registered 4x club

My Zacs worth