Two helicopter rescues in Tasmania after separate bushwalker mishaps

Police have urged people adventuring in Tasmania to carry an appropriate communications device after two separate helicopter rescues on Saturday. A New South Wales man fell while walking on Bruny Island North and called for help on his mobile phone, while in a separate incident, a walker fell ill on the west coast. Both cases show the need for people to carry with them either a fully charged mobile phone or, in more remote areas, a personal locator beacon. Two separate rescues involving Tasmania's rescue helicopter has prompted police to urge bushwalkers to carry communications devices when out and about. A 62-year-old man from New South Wales has had what police described as a "lucky" escape from a cliff fall in southern Tasmania. The man was walking alone on a track at Dennes Point on North Bruny Island on Saturday morning when he fell over and slipped about 10 metres down a steep hill towards the water. Police said the man, who was not injured in the incident, contacted emergency services by mobile phone about 10:30am, with police attending the scene shortly afterwards. A specialist police roping team was sent to the scene in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, with the man rescued about 1pm. Senior Constable Callum Herbert, from Search and Rescue, said the man had slipped about 10 metres down an unstable slope at the edge of a coastal track. "He luckily stopped himself at the top of a further 40-metre cliff," Senior Constable Herbert said. "A sensible decision was made to contact emergency services as in this case an attempt to self-rescue may have resulted in him falling further and could have had a catastrophic outcome. "I remind all walkers to carry a charged mobile phone with them, no matter if the walk is only a short distance and also to remain vigilant around coastal areas, as the ground can be unstable due to loose vegetation and gravel." Walkers activate beacon for rescue In a separate incident on Saturday, a 44-year-old man was rescued from the Tyndall Range on Tasmania's west coast after becoming ill while bushwalking. Police said the man was part of a group of three on a day walk from an overnight campsite when he became unable to continue. The group activated a personal locator beacon (PLB) and contacted emergency services via satellite communications about 3pm. Police said the Westpac Rescue Helicopter located the group and transported the man to the Royal Hobart Hospital for assessment last night. The group was equipped for their overnight camping trip, with "appropriate supplies and communication equipment including their PLB which ensured a quick response from emergency services," police said. Inspector Steve Jones said it was a "timely reminder for bushwalkers in remote areas to carry sufficient food, water, communication equipment and emergency shelter for unexpected delays".