2 more deaths in NT outback

Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 15:12
ThreadID: 74129 Views:5792 Replies:9 FollowUps:12
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Just another reminder to be equipped and stay with your car in emergencies.


[quote]
Two men die in NT outback
December 1, 2009 - 2:57PM
Two men have died and another man has been hospitalised after succumbing to heat in the Northern Territory outback in two separate incidents.

Police said two men bought food and water from a local store in Lajamanu, south-west of Katherine, on Saturday, ahead of a hunting trip.

But they ran into trouble on their way to a remote outstation.

A search party was launched when the pair failed to return yesterday.

Their vehicle was found about 56 kilometres away, shortly before the men were spotted near the Winnekie Creek crossing late yesterday afternoon.

One of the men, aged 62, had died, while the second man, 69, was found alive.

He was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Police initially set up a crime scene but have since ruled out any suspicious circumstances relating to the death.

In a separate incident, a motorist found the body of a man alongside a road just outside Minyerri, south-east of Katherine, late on Monday afternoon.

Police said it was the body of a 50-year-old man who was travelling with a 46-year-old man along Hodgson River Road when their four-wheel drive hit a cow.

The men were not injured in the crash but the car would not restart, police said.

The 50-year-old then began walking to Minyerri for help while the other man remained with the vehicle.

Police investigations are continuing.

AAP


http://www.theage.com.au/national/two-men-die-in-nt-outback-20091201-k35e.html [/quote]
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Reply By: Atta Boy Luther - Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 18:25

Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 18:25
I painted the troopy roof with heat reflecting paint and on a 34deg celcius day the inside of the car with the windows up and in full sun was cooler than the outside in direct sun .
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Follow Up By: Wizard1 - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 14:43

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 14:43
That's good......
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Follow Up By: Member -Tukka (WA) - Thursday, Dec 03, 2009 at 18:54

Thursday, Dec 03, 2009 at 18:54
i like that idea
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Reply By: Kim and Damn Dog - Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 19:55

Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 19:55
It’s not good to see people die like this, and my commiserations to their family.

It sounds to me like a couple of blokes had some bad luck, and couldn’t get back, either through age or heat stroke.

I’m sure the full story will come out in time.

Regards

Kim
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Follow Up By: D200Dug- Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 22:13

Tuesday, Dec 01, 2009 at 22:13
I don't think it was bad luck.

More like bad management of a dangerous situation that led to a fatal outcome.

When in situations like that you do not want to be relying on luck.
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Follow Up By: Kim and Damn Dog - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:36

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:36
I have a feeling that you don't know much about isolated bush travel.

Regards

Kim
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Follow Up By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:41

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:41
Maybe but I far prefer to trust planning rather than luck

Either good or bad.

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Reply By: Member Brian (Gold Coast) - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 08:03

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 08:03
Poor buggers.

Yep, they made mistakes, but it has cost them dearly.My condolences to their loved ones.

Regards

Brian

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Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 08:40

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 08:40
That's sad.

What is even sadder is that the indigenous people have lost their sense of bushcraft to survive the outback as their ancestors had done.

It has happened before and it will happen again. Stay with your vehicle in the event of a break-down. Your chances of survival are a lot better then.










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Reply By: Phil and Sue - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 14:24

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 14:24
A shame but lets see if we can get some good from what the story reminds us of.

Lets just take 5, park our ego in the back room for a while and look at ourselves and our set-ups. Are we so good that there is absolutely nothing missing. How well are we prepared for a similar situation. Whilst we do not know the whole story and may never hear it lets run up a check list and see how well we score. We should all know what is needed and if we don't there are heaps of lists and lots of "mates" to assist us in ensuring that we will return to our loved ones.

I have been putting off upgrading our comms and as soon as I read this I sent an email off about a HF antenna. I have the radios and tuner etc - just need to install a suitable antenna system

Well I started - now to follow it up.

What a disastrous way to be reminded of how beautiful and harsh our great land is.

Just a thought.
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Follow Up By: Willem - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 15:35

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 15:35
Yer right there.....this country is unforgiving, especially over the summer months. One cannot be too careful.

Simple but basic rules:

Always carry a good measure of water with you
Communications is a must i.e. HF, Uhf, Satphone or Mobile phone depending on where you are travelling
Always carry basic tools, puncture repair kit, air compressor and first aid kit
Tell someone where you are going
Stay with your vehicle if you break down

The driest continent on earth can have your guts for garters in a span of hours. So Beware!!!!


Cheers
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Reply By: Brian Purdue - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 16:34

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 16:34
Twice I have found people toatally unable to travel. I was travelling back to Exmouth when I saw a car and caravan parked on the side of the road with a flat tyre. I stopped to see if they needed help. They did. They had NO water no jack and no money. I gave them half my water and bought a tyre at the roadhouse for them and sent it back by a fellow traveller. The temerature was 120 at the Billabong.
Another time I found a car on the side of the road north of Carnarvon. Again no water, no oil, petrol or money. The two blokes in it were looking for work.
I agree with Willem some people should just stay at home.
Brian
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Reply By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:13

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:13
While comms are great if your vehicle rolls or burns you are in deep trouble.

For a few hundred bucks an EPIRB is the best insurance policy I can think of.

One within easy reach and able to be grabbed quickly in emergencies will give a lot of security should the excreta ever happen to strike the impeller :-)
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Follow Up By: Phil and Sue - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:30

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:30
I thought it would be more helpful if you said something like the following.

Excellent idea to get the comms improved. May I suggest you add an IPERB to the HF.

Not just inferring that I am wasting my time improving my comms. An IPERB cannot ask the bloke 100 KMS away if he could help with a problem can it?

Get both is best.
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Follow Up By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:58

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 17:58
No but in a life threatening emergency it is probably the quickest and most reliable option, The thread is about being prepared and not getting into trouble.

Sorry if I offended you, I have just seen some very well equipped radio vans rendered useless in a few seconds by fire and roll overs.

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Follow Up By: Pete Mac - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:11

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:11
I would think a first aid kit, epirb and survival kit in a grab bag is cheap life insurance...

Pete
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Reply By: Phil and Sue - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:42

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:42
Its good to see the ideas coming.

Maybe we should add that all offroad 4WD drivers should do a training course. Both of us did one and they mentioned these things and heaps of other stuff.

What do you think?
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Follow Up By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:47

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 21:47
As much as I hate government regulation I am a firm believer that everyone who drives an off road capable 4 wheel drive should have a license test and endorsement to say that they can drive off road.

A simple test like this would remove probably 80% of the Mum's Taxi 4WDs off our roads and replace them with more suitable cars.

If you want to encourage the sales of Australian made family cars this would be a simple way to do it :-)
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Follow Up By: Phil and Sue - Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:04

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:04
I will never forget what a girl said at work one day. She had just purchased a Paj or something like that. She said "Its great now I can get up the gutter at the creche when I drop of and pick up ???". Forgot the baby's name. But the words stuck.

Amazing hey?

Yes I hate regulation also. There once was a thing called "common sense". That's why we did the course. We parked our ego, (well I did anyway) and used our common sense. But if that is what it takes then so be it. The cost is worth saving lives.

As far as the training cost is concerned it is also possible to join a reputable 4WD club as their training courses are usually included as part of the membership.

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Follow Up By: D200Dug- Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:21

Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 at 22:21
I can also remember a time when the only people who drove a 4 wheel drive had a use for a 4 wheel drive :-(

Or as I used to say to the parents who parked on our footpath in their $100,000+ luxury 4x4s "IS that one of those off road vehicles ?.......... Do you think you could find somewhere other than the footpath to drive if off road please ?"
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Thursday, Dec 03, 2009 at 17:39

Thursday, Dec 03, 2009 at 17:39
In January 2005 a man died near Arkaroola when he left his vehicle which had lots of water and food in it. The temperatures were above 40 degrees.

The vehicle was facing up a steep hill and police were able to easily move it by reversing back down the hill.

He was found 7 km from the vehicle - why did he leave it ?


Report on Coroners Inquest into a death near Arkaroola in 2005
"Conclusion In my opinion there is no need for any recommendation to be made in this matter. It would be useful however for the Department of Transport or some other appropriate organ of Government to remind the travelling public, and particularly those who might travel to remote areas such as Arkaroola, of the well established principle that one should never leave a vehicle if it should become stranded in some way and that it is much safer to remain with the vehicle and await rescue. In the present case, Mr Pudney had ample water and food to sustain him at least until the arrival of the German tourists on the Friday afternoon. Indeed, he probably had sufficient food and water to sustain him for a considerably longer period than that. He also had ample fuel in the vehicle to be able to run the vehicle’s air conditioner and cool himself down periodically during the hottest part of the day. It was undoubtedly a tragic mistake to leave the vehicle in the circumstances in which he did. This is a tragic reminder of the wisdom of the principle of staying with a stranded vehicle when one is in a remote location and I trust that it will be reinforced by the appropriate organs of Government. "
http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/courts/coroner/findings/findings_2007/pudney.finding.htm
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