Tuesday 12-Jan-2010 (1650 hrs CST)
Search suspended –Central Australia
Police have suspended the search for the body of a man who went missing in the Sandover River on Saturday morning.
Police mounted a land and air search after a report that two brothers aged 25 and 32 had been swept away in the river. Territory Response Section members were flown to the Arlparra community on Sunday after searchers failed to locate the missing pair.
On Monday morning the body of the 32-year-old was found approximately 22 kilometres from where he went missing. The body was retrieved and has been taken to Alice Springs.
Meanwhile the air and ground search continued for the body of the second man, however, after more than 50 flying hours, approximately 1950 kilometres searched by air and 75kilometres of land search along the river bank, police have stood down the TRS members involved until the waters recede.
Acting Superintendent Darrell Kerr said around 30 members of the Arlparra community had also been involved in the search.
“It’s always a difficult decision to suspend a search, but it’s become clear there is little chance of the man being located with the waters at their present level.,” Acting Superintendent Kerr said.
“Therefore, we are standing the TRS down and they will fly back to Darwin to resume the search again once the waters recede.
“This has been a tragic event for the family and community members, but the dedication of those assisting in the search is to be commended.”
Meanwhile the Northern Territory Emergency Service Flood boat and two crew from Alice Springs have been sent to the Arlparra Community to assist with on-going flood relief services to the surrounding outstations.
Missing bushwalker found
Updated
A UK tourist has been found safe after spending the night in Queensland's Gold Coast hinterland.
The 61-year-old woman had gone for a walk at Cedar Creek around 1pm AEST yesterday and the alarm was raised when she failed to return.
Police and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers searched the area last night without success.
The woman was found by police around 7:15am AEST.
She is being treated for mild hypothermia.
The woman told rescuers she became disorientated.
Body of child recovered from river – Gilgandra
Thursday, 18 Feb 2010 11:38amSearchers have located the body of a four-year-old girl from the Castlereagh River at Gilgandra.
The child was with her parents on the riverbank about 5pm on Tuesday (16 February) when she went missing.
Emergency services were called in and a full-scale search was initiated, involving local police, ambulance personnel, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), NSW Fire Brigades and volunteers from the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) and State Emergency Service (SES).
Today’s search resumed about 7am and involved local police, the Police Dive Unit, ambulance personnel, VRA and SES volunteers.
The child’s body was found in the river about 9am by searchers.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Three to face court after entering restricted area of national park – Blue Mountains
Wednesday, 17 Feb 2010 05:17amThree people will appear before court after allegedly attempting to canyon in a closed area of the Blue Mountains National Park (NSW) earlier this month.
On Saturday 6 February police and emergency services were notified that two men and a woman had failed to return from a canyoning trip in an area of the Blue Mountains National Park known as Grand Canyon.
A 37-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, all from Blackheath, allegedly entered the area on Friday 5 February despite signs clearly showing that the area was closed for maintenance.
A search party consisting of police rescue and ambulance paramedics attended the location and formed a party to search the canyon. However, police located the party exiting the canyon on foot a short time later.
The three allegedly told police that they attempted to canyon down the water way within the location, however were unable to negotiate it due to fallen trees. As a result of rain in the area, water levels continued to increase and the three had to seek shelter on a ledge overnight, at one point moving to a higher ledge to avoid further rising waters.
The following morning they were able to climb up towards the walking track and leave the canyon.
The three will be issued with court attendance notices for the offence of engage in activity in a national park that causes risk to safety.
They will appear at Katoomba Local Court on 20 April 2010.
“The Grand Canyon is currently closed for track maintenance and police will allege that the walking track is taped off at the entrance. Also further along the track are two locked gates. The start of the track is signposted indicating that it is closed and warning of fines for anyone not heeding the signs,” Blue Mountains Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Michael Bostock said.
“These three people have entered the canyon despite the apparent risk to their own safety and appear to have blatantly ignored all the warnings. As a result they have been lucky to avoid a tragedy.
“Police Rescue officers are regularly mobilised in the Blue Mountains to find missing bush walkers and canyoners. It is frustrating to the extreme that people demonstrate a total disregard for their own personal safety, and as a result the potential danger to police officers and other emergency services personnel who have to come to their rescue,” Detective Inspector Bostock said.
