A cyclist attempting to traverse the Snowy River at Suggan Buggan, located in the remote eastern region of Gippsland, was rescued during a dramatic operation overnight.

The 31-year-old individual found themselves stranded in the river for approximately four hours, relying on reeds to keep themselves above water. The incident occurred just before 8 PM when the cyclist encountered difficulties while crossing the river.

According to authorities, the well-prepared cyclist utilized a satellite communication device to signal for assistance, which alerted the Rescue and Coordination Centre (RCC) with precise location details.

Members of the Victoria Police Air Wing identified another cyclist on the riverbank and subsequently deployed a rescuer via a winch to safely retrieve the stranded cyclist from the water shortly after midnight.

Following the rescue, the cyclist was transported to a hospital for evaluation, but fortunately, they did not sustain any injuries.