A bushwalker has died after her group was caught in severe weather conditions at Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair NP in Tasmania.
Tasmania Police were alerted on Friday afternoon when another hiking group came across a distressed group of Chinese nationals — a family of three and a friend — suffering from cold exposure during a day walk to Marions Lookout.
Inspector Steve Jones said while the group was equipped for a short hike, they were unprepared for the harsh conditions they encountered.
“They didn’t have essential gear, including a personal locator beacon, and couldn’t call for help when they realized they were in trouble,” he said.
“Fortunately, another group of walkers found them and offered crucial assistance with the limited supplies they had.”
Inspector Jones noted that, without the intervention of the passing hikers and a nearby Parks and Wildlife ranger who reached the group before emergency crews, more lives might have been lost.
Due to poor weather, a rescue helicopter couldn’t be deployed. Instead, a ground team made up of police search and rescue officers, along with members from the State Emergency Service, Parks and Wildlife Service, and Ambulance Tasmania, hiked in late Friday to reach the group.
Rescuers camped overnight with the stranded walkers. Sadly, one woman died that evening, likely from hypothermia.
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