Emergency PLB Activation Leads to Helicopter Rescue in Tasmania

1 lives saved

Hiking

Lake

Medical emergency

Mountain

Normal conditions

What happened?

We were a group of four on a seven-day hike in a remote section of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park in Tasmania, Australia. This stunning and rugged area, known as the Traveller Range, is a wonderland of towering peaks, pristine lakes, ancient native pines, and diverse alpine vegetation. Unlike developed trails, this region remains untracked. Visitors must navigate their own routes through rough and uneven terrain.

Halfway through our trip, one of our group members slipped on a rocky shoreline while preparing for a lunchtime swim. As they fell, they twisted their ankle badly, causing immediate pain and swelling. We quickly provided first aid, hoping it was a minor injury. However, after assessing the damage, we realised it was serious. Given our remote location and the rough landscape, walking out was not an option.

With no other choice, we activated our rescueME PLB1. Within two hours, a rescue helicopter arrived and airlifted the injured person to safety. Later, we learned they had fractured their ankle, confirming that evacuation was the right decision.

The rescue process went smoothly, and we felt immense relief knowing the PLB1 worked as expected. This experience highlighted the importance of carrying emergency communication devices in remote areas, where help can take hours to arrive, and self-rescue is often impossible.

Words of wisdom

Take a PLB incase something goes wrong!

Thank you note to the Ocean Signal team

This has been a great, lightweight PLB that worked when it had to. Many thanks for providing such a useful product to bushwalkers