AI-powered drone rescues lost Kozi hikers

Two bushwalkers who became lost in southern New South Wales’ Kosciuszko National Park have been found using an artificial intelligence-powered drone in what Fire and Rescue NSW has described as a first-of-its-kind rescue.

The men, both in their early 20s, were reported missing at about 7pm last Tuesaday after failing to return from the Dead Horse Gap walking track, around 35km southwest of Jindabyne. Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Jindabyne joined the search, deploying a remotely piloted drone equipped with AI detection software and thermal imaging technology.

The drone quickly identified the hikers’ heat signatures, revealing they had strayed around 500m from the marked trail. Its onboard speaker then allowed emergency crews to communicate directly with the pair while police and State Emergency Service volunteers made their way to the location and safely escorted them from the park.

The hikers suffered only mild exposure and declined medical treatment.

According to Fire and Rescue NSW, it was the first successful rescue using the agency’s AI-assisted drone technology. Regional duty commander Inspector Phillip Eberle said the system dramatically reduced the search time, turning what could have become a multi-day operation into one lasting less than five hours. “It’s definitely helped make what could have been a long-term incident into a very short-term incident,” he said.