Two Die in Central Australia
Submitted: Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:18
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53486
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CLC50
Hi all
I just copied this of 9MSN ,It is Sad but cars do break down as we all know, & they forgot the golden rulles,say by your truck & drink the radiator water.
Two die after car breaks down in outback
Monday Jan 14 18:18 AEDT
A married couple who died in the Central Australian outback used the last of their water on a leaking car radiator, the sole survivor of the tragedy has told police.
The elderly man was found on Sunday night wandering alongside a remote road about 100km from Nyirripi, west of
Alice Springs.
A ground search had been mounted to find the man and his two companions after a report was made to police about 9pm (CST) on Sunday that an overdue party was missing after setting off from the Aboriginal community of
Kintore.
The man, believed to be aged between 60 and 70, told police that the Pajero station wagon they had been travelling in broke down 116km from Nyirripi two days earlier.
The group then ran out of water after using it to fill up a leaking radiator, he said.
On Sunday night, police found the car a few kilometres further along the road but there was no
sign of the couple.
Lights and sirens were used to try to attract the missing pair as the search team slowly travelled back to the community, leaving water bottles along the way.
Police said they resumed their search at first light on Monday and eventually came across the 31-year-old woman, barely alive, by the side of the road.
Her tracks led to the body of her 34-year-old husband who had died about 90 metres from a dry
waterhole.
The woman was taken to the Nyirripi Health Clinic where she was pronounced dead at 11.30am (CST) on Monday.
Detectives are preparing a report for the coroner and a post mortem examination on the couple will be conducted in
Alice Springs on Tuesday.
Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:28
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:28
"& drink the radiator water."
Hmmm ... I've always been told NOT to drink the radiator water ????
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281613
Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:33
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:33
That coolant containing glycerin won't improve your predicament any if you drink radiator water let me tell you...
FollowupID:
545923
Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:34
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:34
thats due to coolant in it
- i really dought the comunity wagons get properly serviced and coolant added
FollowupID:
545924
Follow Up By: CLC50 - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:18
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:18
Hi
I have never used coolant until a few months ago.so it was all ways ok to drink the rusty water ,& most outback cars still don't .But there was a old trick to stop leaks one egg in radiator if you had a egg or cut the leaking fin & cords & bend it over & over to stop the leak .The radiator will be stuffed but it will get you
home taking you time
FollowupID:
545931
Follow Up By: Member - Noldi (WA) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:23
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 21:23
I thought the water would be ok if you put through a solar still?
What are your thoughts?
FollowupID:
545950
Follow Up By: Blaze - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 02:44
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 02:44
CLC50
I know the egg works and also the tube crimping. Another good trip that may help some members is the following. Years ago whilst working in outback I holed a radiator tube I used a piece of a branch from a bush and whittled it down and tapped it in.. Lasted 6mths, mate did a welsh plug and also used trhis trick, didn't replace the plug for a further 3000klm's. All good fixes but too late for this couple.
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 07:25
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 07:25
Noldi,
I'd try it at
home first. Comfortable with using a 'solar still' for salt or muddy water or the other type of 'solar still' using green matter if need be.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: equinox - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:38
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 19:38
"The group then ran out of water after using it to fill up a leaking radiator, he said."
Taking extra water with them - Good decison.
Using it to top-up an already leaking radiator - Bad decision, which ultimatley cost them their lives. Hindsights 20-20 hey??
AnswerID:
281617
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:05
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 22:05
Alan
the decision was made that they may make it. before that ran out of water, its a bit of bad luck, not good to see..
Cheers
Richard
FollowupID:
546212
Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:07
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:07
16 years ago we were on
the Tanami Track near the WA border when we saw black smoke ahead. Then we saw the broken-down Troopie and a dozen community members sitting in the shade, including a baby. They'd been there since last night.
They asked for water, so we gave them a 20litre drum while I called on the RFDS radio. When I'd finished I walked up to the vehicle and thought "what a waste of water" - the radiator was TOTALLY clogged with grass seeds and they had never seen the radiator cap. I asked if they needed more oil, because the oil fill cap was not to be seen - same story, they hadn't ever seen it.
Maybe an EPIRB would have been useful.
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:23
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:23
Mike, I grew up as a kid in the 50's at Mt. Doreen Stn. on
the Tanami Track (now abandoned and relocated to
Vaughan Springs) Very remote country as would know, where these people perished. By the look of things if they left
Kintore mission and were found where they were, they were were heading east, (Towards Alice on the
Gary Junction Rd.) We cannot speculate on their circumstances, but here is another tragedy of the outback, that will bring us all back to reallity, and hopefully in time, as the facts emerge, learn from their very sad demise.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:48
Monday, Jan 14, 2008 at 20:48
should have mentioned that Mt. Doreen is not that far north of this location....in outback distance, anyway....
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Reply By: Smudger - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 00:22
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 00:22
A stark reminder that it only takes a couple of days for this country do its worst.
Today the roads are busier and there's a better chance of being found if you get into strife. But, you still can't afford to be complacent out there.
So sad.
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Reply By: Member - Barnesy (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 01:24
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 01:24
Sadly another couple to add to the list. I'm afraid it's a list that will keep growing.
It does highlight the importance of a little preparation though. There is no need for people to die out bush.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 09:38
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 09:38
All is needed is a tube of plastibond or the two part stuff like plasticine that you knead together all for about $10, it will fix all kinds of leaks if you are calm and keep a clear head.. Sadly panic mode takes over some people and the opportunity is lost. Michael
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AnswerID:
281716
Reply By: Member - Big Al. Gold Coast - Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 18:38
Tuesday, Jan 15, 2008 at 18:38
Travelling up
the Tanami track last year we came across a
ambulance broken down with busted fan belt and no spare.
They were ok but waiting for police to bring replacement.
We drove even more carefully after that even with our truck full of spares.
AnswerID:
281804