The daughter of an 87-year-old bushwalker, who miraculously survived a frigid night lost in the dense bushland of southwestern Western Australia, is sharing her mother’s ordeal with hopes of raising awareness for others venturing into the wild.
The adventurous bushwalker embarked on her journey last Friday, intending to traverse a trail near Donnelly River Village, located 280 kilometres south of Perth. Unfortunately, a wrong turn led her astray into the wilderness.
“My mum, who’s simply unstoppable and recently had new hips, was eager to tackle a walk,” her daughter Jo shared earlier today.
Alone in the vast bushland, the 87-year-old faced plummeting temperatures that dipped to a chilling 6 degrees Celsius as night fell.
“There was a moment when I genuinely believed I might never see my mum again,” Jo admitted, reflecting on the harrowing experience. “The fear of her not coming back was overwhelming.”
“I really didn’t think she was coming back.”
The alarm was raised by 8pm on Friday. Family and emergency services combed the tracks, helicopters and drones searched overhead but the thick canopy was hiding her.Â
“We did all the trails and forestry tracks on our bikes and walking for the whole night, and didn’t find her,” Jo said.
Finally she was found – exhausted, dehydrated but unhurt – 2 kilometres from where she started, after her phone managed to call Triple Zero.
“She was sitting on a jarra log, waiting here obediently, eating her little packet of raisins,” Jo said.
Police warn more people are heading into remote areas unprepared, sparking major rescue operations. Experts urging walkers to always tell loved ones their plans.Â
“Take extra water, take a little bit of extra food, extra clothing, maybe some form of shelter,” bush survival expert Terry Hewett said.
” ⦠a four to six or maybe eight-hour walk could end up being an overnight event.”
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