At 7:00pm on Saturday 11/11/17 Tasmania Police Search and Rescue received information about a missing walker on the Moonlight Ridge Track in the Southern Ranges. A 74 year old Howrah man, who was walking with his wife, had become separated and lost whilst trying to locate a camp site. His wife subsequently made a mobile telephone call for assistance a short while later.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was activated at 8:00pm but was unable to reach the section of Moonlight Ridge the couple had been on due to low cloud. Subsequently a police search and rescue land team was flown as close as possible and walked all night to reach the missing man’s wife who called for assistance. They were unable to locate the missing man during this walk.

At first light on  12/11/17 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew to Moonlight Ridge in clearing weather conditions and after a brief search located the missing man about 1 kilometre off track in thick vegetation. A recovery operation then took place and the man was rescued from the scene by hover entry. The wife was winched from her location and the search team were also flown from the ridge.

The 74 year old Howrah man was uninjured as a result of the overnight ordeal.

Tasmania Police would like to remind people to never separate during a remote bush walk, always keep your overnight equipment with you, be mindful that mobile phone batteries quickly discharge in cold conditions, and to always carry a personal locator beacon.