Family of 3 rescued from Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania
A family has been rescued from a National Park in Tasmania two nights in harsh conditions. While all are now safe and well police say it could have ended tragically.
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00:00A rescue mission in blizzard-like conditions to reach a family stranded in Tasmania's
00:07Walls of Jerusalem National Park, including a child suffering from hypothermia.
00:12This could have very easily had a catastrophic outcome.
00:18The young person was quite unwell by the time the walking party got to them at 2.30 on Monday
00:23morning.
00:24I think the child probably wouldn't have had much longer.
00:28Rescuers say two adults and a child set out on Sunday morning, planning to walk to the
00:33twin spires.
00:34Not uncommon for it to be completed, but certainly not a tourist walk.
00:38But uncommon for it to be taken on at this time of the year as it's usually not possible
00:41to complete it in daylight hours.
00:43They activated their emergency locator beacon that afternoon, after the weather closed in
00:48and temperatures dropped to zero.
00:51Carrying a personal locator beacon and activating it as they did would undoubtedly save their
00:55lives.
00:56Rescuers reached the family early on Monday morning, after a five-hour trek.
01:01They brought food and shelter, and treated the nine-year-old boy for hypothermia.
01:05They were cold and very happy to see us.
01:09Poor weather conditions prevented the rescue helicopter reaching the family until this
01:14morning, leaving them to spend two nights in the wilderness.
01:18There was a strong wind warning out, so winds were very strong once they were up on the
01:21plateau where they were.
01:23It was actively snowing, it was effectively a blizzard.
01:27The family was taken to the Launceston General Hospital for a precautionary check-up.
01:31Police say they're all well.
01:34And are reminding bushwalkers that weather conditions can change rapidly.
01:38The best equipped, the best trained and the most professional people in the world will
01:42sometimes be defeated by the weather.
01:44We can't always get to people in those situations.
01:47So yes, they're lucky.
01:49An outcome not being taken for granted.
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