A 20-year-old man was rescued after being caught in a blizzard near Mount Buller in Victoria's Alpine National Park. Emergency services were alerted around 9pm on Tuesday when the man used a satellite phone to call for help. Police said he camped in place until rescuers arrived.
The man was on a 21-day hike along the Australian Alps trail when he encountered snow and used his handheld GPS device to send an emergency message. Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Geoff Hutchinson said the man realized he was not prepared to walk through snow. He was uninjured but not equipped for the sudden weather change.
This rescue followed another incident earlier Tuesday, when a 49-year-old hiker, Elizabeth Marsden from Ballarat, needed assistance off the mountain. She was on a planned 28-day walk but struggled with shivering and feared hypothermia after snow fell on her tent. Police reached her before midnight and transported her to Mansfield.
Senior Sergeant Hutchinson warned visitors to alpine regions to prepare for sudden weather changes. The Bureau of Meteorology reported Mount Buller received 46mm of rain in 24 hours, with snowfall possible. Mount Buller spokesperson Rhylla Morgan said about 12-13cm of snow had fallen, and urged hikers and cyclists to pack appropriate clothing and carry wheel chains for vehicles.
