On Thursday 19 December 2013 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by AUSSAR to search for an EPIRB activation in the vicinity of the Gordon River. The helicopter flew to the area where they located two males stranded on the side of the swollen river.

The two males were winched from the remote location and transported to Hobart.

The males had walked the King William Range before rafting the Denison River. The Denison River flows into the Gordon River and this is where the two males struck trouble. One of the males lost rafting equipment in the swollen river and spent sometime in the water before making it to the side of the river. Once both made it to the river bank they activated the EPIRB.

Both males were experienced and well prepared for the walk and rafting expedition.

Video footage of the winches is located at Rotor Lift.