A couple of months down the line James reflects on the rescue at Hugh Gorge.
“It is so lucky that we were able to get to her when we did, we were only a couple of minutes away from not being able to get the helicopter out to her,” Intensive Care Paramedic and Clinical Support Officer James Rowland said.
It was all over the news and you probably all heard about the Hollywood style rescue that happened in May on the Larapinta Trail.
Tasked by Northern Territory Police (NTPOL) Search and Rescue (SAR) and a St John NT paramedic with remote access training were deployed by helicopter to a remote drop zone near Fringe Lily Creek. From there, the paramedic and SARs member hiked 4.7 kilometres across rugged terrain and water obstacles, reaching the patient after dark.
The 47-year-old hiker activated her emergency beacon after a fall left her stranded and unable to walk.
“She was in a lot of pain when we showed up, it was so bad that she couldn’t handle the splint,” James explained.
“Even though the injury isn’t life threatening, when you are out in such a remote place unable to even feed yourself, it becomes a life-threatening situation real quick.”
The hiker had fallen into cold water and was exposed to temperatures as low as 2°C. She was in severe pain, dehydrated, hypotensive, and showing signs of hypothermia. By the time the rescue team reached the patient it was too late and too risky to extract. They setup camp and managed the patient’s symptoms with pain management, intravenous fluids, leg splinting and warming techniques.
The next morning, she was stretchered 3.6 kilometres over rocks and through multiple water crossings before being taken to Alice Springs Hospital.
“Looking back, I don’t think I would have done anything differently from the way we did it,” James said.
After the rescue James kept an eye on the patient’s recovery. She did require a surgery before she was well enough to go back home. After arriving she had to undergo a second surgery.
Without the coordination of all the parties involved in the search and rescue operation the outcome for those stranded in remote locations would be bleak. James commended the whole crew who’s caring attitude, training and perseverance made this rescue a success story.
The incident at Hugh Gorge remains a standout moment, but it is part of a growing pattern of beacon activations along the Larapinta Trail this dry season.
Since May, three other rescues have tested teams in similar ways. In one case, a 64-year-old man was carried out of the Central Australian bush after spending the night in extreme pain near a waterhole just off the trail. In another, a woman with a non-critical eye injury set off her emergency beacon, prompting emergency services to hike in and bring her to Alice Springs Hospital for assessment. The third was a 55-year-old male who had a low heartrate. All three rescued following the activation of a beacon.
These recent incidents serve as reminders of just how quickly a situation can become serious in remote environments. They also reinforce the importance of trained responders like James and his team, who are ready to go wherever they’re needed, no matter the hour, the distance, or the conditions
