Bushwalker survives freezing Tasmanian weather
Tasmanian Police that a bushwalker has survived two nights in sub-zero temperatures, lost in central Tasmania. The police had lost hope that the 45 year old William Shaw had survived freezing conditions since Thursday afternoon near Cradle Mountain.
But at about 1pm today (Saturday 26 August 2006), 14km from Cradle Mountain searchers heard a man’s voice and Mr Shaw was found safe and in relatively good condition.
Mr Shaw used some clever survival instincts to protect himself from the cold with temperatures plumeting to –4ºC on the Thursday night, and –5ºC on Friday night.
“He buried himself in ferns and trees for two nights to protect himself,” Police said.
“His survival instincts cut in and he was in bushland which had a thick canopy, this protected him further and fortunately there was no rain, so he was relatively dry when found.”
Mr Shaw had resisted the onset of hypothermia, despite the odds against him. He was suffering fatigue, dehydration, despite his efforts to drink creek water, and had injured his groin in a fall.
He became lost when he followed a track until he could no longer find track markers. Disoriented, injured and in thick bushland, an injured Mr Shaw trekked to Reynolds Creek during daylight hours, the opposite direction to his workplace at Cradle Mountain Lodge.
“So he decided to dig another hole and cover himself with ferns and trees for the night,” Poice said.
Mr Shaw is originally from Liverpool in England. Police were first notified on Friday at 3.30pm (AEST) of his failure to return to Cradle Mountain Lodge.
An attempt to send in a rescue helicopter late Friday was called off when fading light made flying conditions dangerous.
The helicopter, with thermal imaging equipment, was used from 7am (AEST) Saturday.