Floods hinder tourists’ rescue

A GROUP of international tourists was lucky to be found after a weekend camping trip turned into what could have been a disaster following heavy rain this week

A group of six backpackers set out on their camping trip over the weekend at the Goldsborough Valley.

On Sunday, two of the campers left the location and returned to the Tablelands ready for work that week, but the remaining four opted to stay longer and were caught out after heavy rains fell on the valley on Sunday.

While the group had supplies, there were very limited phone communications so the four waited for the rain to subside and the rivers to retreat.

The Far North experienced significant rainfall, causing many rivers to rise, road closures, fallen trees, generalised flooding and rockslides which impacted the group plan to return home to the Tablelands for work on Tuesday, April 20.

When the group failed to arrive at work, a friend notified police that they were missing and provided an approximate location of the group.

Police received advice that the group had food, water and camp equipment to sustain them in the environment but that planning a rescue effort from the secluded campsite.

Swollen rivers hampered and rescue efforts by foot or vehicle. A change in weather on Wednesday afternoon allowed the QGAir rescue helicopter to fly over the area with police on board.

The group was found by the helicopter crew about 2.30pm on Wednesday and the three men and one woman, were winched from the campsite.

While no one was injured, police search co-ordinators recommend those planning on going to remote areas with limited mobile phone reception, to plan and prepare and pack suitable safety equipment for the conditions, including personal EPIRBS.

Police said the group was lucky a friend alerted authorities.