An 87-year-old woman endured a night in the frigid wilderness of southern Western Australia after losing her way during a bushwalk. Fortunately, she was found and treated for dehydration, but otherwise emerged from the ordeal without injuries.
The efforts of local Nannup officers, community volunteers, and members of the South West Police were commended following the successful rescue operation.
The elderly hiker was reported missing near Nannup, located approximately 300 kilometers south of Perth, shortly after 8 PM on Friday. Rescuers faced challenging conditions, as temperatures dropped to a brisk 6 degrees Celsius overnight, raising serious concerns for her safety.
She was discovered around 1 PM on Saturday in the Donnelly River region, having become disoriented in the thick bushland.
Acting Superintendent Andy Elliott from South West Police highlighted that poor mobile phone reception in the area significantly delayed the search efforts. “The absence of mobile towers in regional WA, not just in this instance, complicates our ability to locate individuals as effectively as we can in urban settings,” he explained.
Although a police helicopter was dispatched, visibility was limited due to the dense tree cover. Eventually, the woman managed to connect her calls, providing rescuers with guidance on her location. “She had a general idea of where she was,” Superintendent Elliott noted. “Rescuers had to use chainsaws to create paths through the underbrush to reach her.” He remarked that she had inadvertently wandered off the main path into a less traveled area.
Superintendent Elliott also emphasized that the woman was well-equipped for her hike. “At 87, she is an experienced walker,” he stated. “She brought additional water, wore relatively warm clothing, and had some food supplies with her, which helped her sustain herself overnight with trail mix.”
After being assessed, the woman received treatment for dehydration but was otherwise unharmed. Local community members were praised for their invaluable assistance during the rescue.
“It was an extraordinary collaborative effort,” Superintendent Elliott remarked. “Nannup officer-in-charge Keith Tarver put in a tremendous amount of work throughout the night. Our success is heavily reliant on the support of the local community, including the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the State Emergency Service, who played a crucial role in this operation.”
