Recent incidents in which people have ventured out into bushland inadequately prepared has prompted ACT Policing to warn the community about the need to plan for contingencies.
In the first incident, a 4WD vehicle became bogged on Saturday (December 22) while driving on tracks in the Brindabella Ranges near the Mount Coree turnoff.
The two men, with two two-year-old children and two 18-month-old infants in their vehicle, had become stuck and did not have the equipment to extricate their 4WD.
One of the men walked some distance to obtain mobile service, then texted their location. The Specialist Response Group’s Search and Rescue team was despatched, but fortunately a passing vehicle had provided a tow before police arrived.
In an unrelated incident, a group of seven unprepared bushwalkers who had left at 5am yesterday (Sunday, December 23) for a walk in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve were caught out by the sudden change in weather and had not returned by 8.30pm.
The group, which had been lightly clothed and carried only daypacks, texted friends that they were sheltering in the bush overnight. While there were no immediate concerns for the group’s safety, the poor weather overnight prompted ACT Rangers and SRG Search and Rescue to head to the location at first light today (Monday, December 24) to ensure the walkers were safe.
SRG Sergeant Will Collins said these incidents reminded people they should prepare carefully if heading into the bush.
“We would encourage anyone who is heading into a remote area to follow the practice of preparing for a range of weather contingencies and unforseen circumstances, and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return,” Sergeant Collins said.
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