At 8:00am on Saturday 17/1/15 Tasmania Police Search and Rescue were notified of a SPOT device activation in the New River area just south of Federation Peak. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to the area and encountered high winds and rain in the area.

Two German male bushwalkers aged 39 and 40 were located in the area in thick bush after spending over 10 days making their way up the New River with Federation Peak as their destination. Due to record rainfall the New River was in flood making the journey exceptionally difficult. The pair were winched out of thick bushland and flown to Hobart cold but uninjured.

Both males were well equipped and very experienced which is a timely reminder for people embarking on adventures in the Tasmanian wilderness how hostile it can be even in summer months.