A GME MT410G PLB has been used in the rescue of a person after they became trapped under a fallen tree in the Kosciuszko National Park on the 20th of May, 2020.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Australia responded to the detection of a registered Personal Locator Beacon at Geehi Reservoir in New South Wales. The beacon owner’s emergency contact was made aware of a tree felling accident in which the patient had become trapped under a tree and had lost feeling from the waist down. JRCC made the decision to task NSW Police with coordination of the rescue with assistance from NSW Ambulance.
To assist in the rescue a rescue helicopter was tasked to assist. After discussing recovery options with NSW Ambulance due to weather on the scene potentially precluding a helicopter recovery, the rescue helicopter was sent in and was able to recover the patient successfully where they were transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital with suspected spinal fractures.
This serves to remind us how important it is to carry PLBs and EPIRBs and ensure that their registration details are up to date before heading out in remote and potentially dangerous areas.
For more information on the MT410G used in the rescue click here.