Lost hiker rescued in the Outback

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/19/jamie-neale-lost-british-_n_240192.html

Jamie Neale, 19, told Australia's "60 Minutes" television program Sunday that he was "a total idiot" to venture unprepared into the Blue Mountains, 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of Sydney.

Neale said he set off for a hike on July 3 with only two bread rolls and a small bottle of water. He wore light clothing, did not carry his cell phone or a safety beacon and told no one where he was headed.

"I had overconfidence and I didn't respect the seriousness of the situation, and I made mistakes," Neale acknowledged to the program, which paid him 200,000 Australian dollars ($160,600) for his story.

Neale and his father, Richard Cass, threw a party for rescue workers when he was released from the hospital on Friday. Cass has said that any money earned would be donated to the searchers.

"The Blue Mountain rescue service – we'll be in touch with them," Cass told reporters before he flew back to England on Friday.

Now do you understand why we harp on safety here? This guy was just bloody lucky. I've been to the Blue Mountains, just for the day. It would be like disappearing in the Sierra and expecting someone to find you.

The fact that his dad is going to donate the money from the interview to the rescuers shows some real class on his part.

For those who don't read the article, don't forget that July is winter down in oz!!!!

Maybe, hopefully, this lad's story will cause someone to think twice and save a life somewhere else.

TomD
I don't get it Tom. He was traveling ultralight so he could cover more miles and maybe even jog back to his car in the event of a problem. Since he wasn't carrying hardly anything his chances of injury must have been nil. We all know that carrying less is more... so why did they need to rescue him? The rescuers must have had more gear than him and therefore were in more danger.
Just my $.02 worth
Jim

Hey, Jim, maybe that was it-too light for his own good. Hehehe.
Speaking of summer here-two hikers were rescued near Palm Springs-overcome with heat. It was 115 or so out there the past couple of days.

Real simple, he wasn't traveling "ultralight" he was traveling unprepared. Anyone can say you're travelling ultralight by simply not taking anything - a whole lot of nothing is a lot lighter than the best cuben fibre tarp.. IMO you wanna say you're traveling ultralight you need to be prepared for the conditions you're going to see, and yes that depends on where you are going and the season you are doing your hiking in.

And sadly two others were found dead in the same area.

I'm not going to Monday morning quarterback but it appears that they were attempting a hike that even the locals do not do in the heat of summer.

I don't remember the victim saying or even implying that in the article. I don't even remember him mentioning a car. Links?

I was going to write a long reply on getting lost in the aussie bush but after some consideration I came up with few statements that I think covers my thoughts on this case:

1. He was dangerously under-prepared for the activity.
2. He made a number of mistakes that contributed to rescuers not finding him.
3. He is a very, very lucky person to have survived so long.

Unfortunately cases like this are soon forgotten which results in people continuing to make these types of mistakes and some pay the ultimate price while others manage to make it out alive.

Regards,
Michael.

Hmm, I know Jim fairly well, and I'm thinking he's being a bit sarcastic here, so take it for what that's worth.

There's light and then there's stupid or perhaps ignorant (and there is a difference).

As far as the PS fatalities, I remember getting out of my car at 8 in the morning in July after driving out to Indio and it was about 90F already. No way I'd be out hiking in those temps.

Peh forget 90 at 8am, it can sometimes be over 100 at midnight up in PS! Toss in complete exposure=quick death.