Five rescued as flooding catches people out
TWO missing people bogged on a remote road between Chillagoe and Kowanyama were among five people rescued by the Cairns 510 Helicopter Rescue crew over the Christmas weekend.
The rescue was one of a handful which took place on the Christmas weekend, after medical and rescue cases in Yarrabah, Tully, Mossman, Atherton and Mareeba.
The stranded couple, who were bound for Chillagoe, had reportedly become isolated due to rising flood waters after walking for two days in an effort to get back to Kowanyama.
Using the aid of nightvision goggles, the crew found and retrieved the stranded couple – returning to base at the Cairns Airport after more than eight hours on the job.
Another three people were then spotted and rescued by the helicopter crew, with all three isolated due to the high level of flooding caused by monsoonal rain on Cape York.
“Generally it’s busy over the Christmas period because more people are out and about,” rescue crew officer Stuart Wark said.
“If you’re going out into a remote area, you’ve got to be self-reliant – you can’t expect help from anybody else unless you have the communicative tools to get in touch with services when you get stuck.”
The helicopter carries two pilots, a nurse, a paramedic and a rescue crew officer at any time.
Meanwhile, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was yesterday morning called to search for two recreational fishing boats in Princess Charlotte Bay after an emergency distress beacon was “inadvertently” activated.
Two planes and a helicopter were used to search an area of water about 240km north west of Cooktown.
An AMSA spokeswoman confirmed the two boats were found safely.