A bushwalker has been rescued following a multi-agency operation in the Southern Highlands overnight.
About 6.15pm yesterday (Monday 1 July 2024), emergency services were called to Stevos Track at Carrington Falls, following reports a 69-year-old man was lost while bushwalking.
A command post was established and officers attached to Hume Police District responded.
About 10pm, Illawarra Police Rescue and National Parks and Wildlife Service located the man in dense bushland. He was offered food and water and was found to be suffering from mild hypothermia and a small abrasion to his face.
About 1.40am today (Tuesday 2 July 2024), they arrived back at the command post and the man was treated by NSW Ambulance on scene.
Hume Police District Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said it was a timely reminder for bushwalkers to be prepared for any conditions when heading out on a hike.
"No matter how experienced a bushwalker you are, it's really important you are equipped with safety equipment, wearing suitable clothing and carrying food and water. Conditions can change quickly and in this case the temperature dropped to around 4 degrees and was raining, proving challenging for all those involved," Chief Inspector Bernie said.
"We also encourage bushwalkers to have a GPS enabled Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) if you get into difficulty to alert authorities. It's also a great idea to fill out a trip intention form with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, so authorities know where to intend to travel and your return time, in the event don't return safely and authorities can be notified."
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
