Police Search and Rescue teams were deployed to two incidents within the Western District on Saturday 6 June 2020:

• At 3:00pm an EPIRB was detected by AUSAR the location was at the southern end of Lake Burbury (near Queenstown). A 33 year old male bushwalker planning to walk to the Fincham Hut on the Fincham Track lost his mobile phone which held his maps of the area.  The Westpac Emergency Rescue Helicopter was deployed to the area, the male was located and extracted from the area by the helicopter.  The male was not injured and was transported to Hobart.
• At 6:55pm police received a call from a concerned relative of a group of four adult bushwalkers lost in the Leven Canyon area. A search and rescue team was mobilised, but the lost walkers emerged prior to the team’s deployment.  The group had no warm clothing, wet weather gear, or food and were ill equipped for an extended walk and/or an overnight walk.  The group had intended to walk part of the Penguin to Cradle Trail.

As some National Parks and State Reserves are now open after the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions, police would like to remind members of the public to plan their trips, take appropriate clothing/equipment and check weather forecasts for inclement weather conditions.  It is also recommended that bushwalkers advise family (and/or friends) of the location of their intended walks, estimated time of arrival and abide by any directions from Parks and Wildlife.