Bushwalking couple survive FOUR DAYS alone in the wilderness before they are miraculously found alive and well
- Two bushwalkers who survived four days alone in wilderness have been rescued
- Both bushwalkers had planned a three day bushwalk from Saturday to Tuesday
- Police launched a search after being notified one walker had not returned home
- Emergency services were forced to delay their search due to torrential rain
Two bushwalkers survived four days alone in the wilderness before being found alive and well by emergency crews late on Friday morning.
William McCarthy, 59, and Francesca Boterhoven De Haan, 60, planned a three-day bushwalk in the Ettrema Gorge within the Morton National Park on Saturday.
The pair were expected to return home on Tuesday after their trek in the south coast of New South Wales.
William McCarthy (left), 59, and Francesca Boterhoven De Haan (right), 60, have been rescued by emergency crew after being stranded in the bush
Search crew found the bushwalking pair on Friday morning with the Morton National Park
The bushwalkers urged family and friends to contact police if they hadn’t returned home in time.
A search operation was launched by police after they were notified Mr McCarthy had not returned to his Canberra home on Tuesday at 1.30pm.
Search crew found Mr McCarthy’s car parked on Tolwong Road in Ettrema a short time later.
Concerned friends and family flew to the location to stay close to the operation carried out by the search crew.
‘Whatever she’s doing currently, she’s trying to lift the trail and get back to her family – that’s my mum,’ Ms Botherhoven De Haan’s son Shannon Rogers told 9News.
Searchers on Thursday night confirmed the walkers were safe, uninjured and had found shelter.
Search crew found Mr McCarthy’s car parked on Tolwong Road in Ettrema a short time after the search began
New South Wales Police estimated the track would be an estimated two-hour walk into gorge.
‘Due to deteriorating weather conditions, a decision has been made to suspend a retrieval operation until first light tomorrow,’ said police.
Emergency services said the walking track was steep and took an SES unit six hours to walk just two kilometres.
Torrential rain posed a risk to authorities and delayed the search.
‘We’ve got to look after our own safety first and with the conditions deteriorating that’s paramount for me to make sure my guys are safe out there,’ said SES incident commander David Bere.
Among the rescue team on Friday was Shannon who was relieved to have been reunited with his mother.
‘The family and I are happy to say thank you to emergency services for their incredible work once this rescue is completed,’ he said.
The rescue team and bushwalkers are on their way back to the starting point.
Concerned friends and family flew to the location to stay close to the operation carried out by the search crew