A woman in her 20’s is testament to how an EPIRB can help save your life in an emergency.
The device is an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon that is used to alert search and rescue services in the event of an emergency.
It does this by transmitting a coded message via a satellite network.
Thanks to having that device with her, the young woman is recovering in Logan Hospital today after falling on a steep slope on Mt Barney on Sunday morning and injuring one of her ankles.
Queensland Ambulance Service’s Senior Operations Supervisor Adrian Tong says crews from the Gold Coast were called out to rescue the bushwalker around 9.30.
“She was a fair way into the bush and we were working off coordinates provided by an EPIRB.”
“The crew along with Queensland Fire Service and SES took some time to traverse into where she was located. “
“She was located at approximately 3.30 on Sunday afternoon when (QAS) administered some pain relief, made her comfortable and then made a plan to carry her from the bush.”
“Over the proceeding hours she was taken along quite a steep and narrow bush track back to an awaiting four wheel drive ambulance.”
“They then had to transport her about 45 minutes back to the main car park where she was transferred into another ambulance.”
“She was being transported at 4 oçlock this morning to Logan Hospital.”
“It appears she sustained a fracture to her ankle. She was in good spirits. All the services joined together and affected a great outcome.”
“The paramedics, Fire Service and SES personnel were all a bit cold and tired – a bit hungry , but all in all it was a great outcome.”
Mr Tong says before you set out on a bushwalk on Mt Barney you need to be well prepared.
