January 3, 2008
Mobile phone photos rescue lost hikers
Images sent to park rangers from a mobile phone were instrumental in rescuing three people lost in rugged country in a Victorian national park, reports News.com.au.
"A 46-year-old man was hiking with his son and niece, both aged 14, in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria yesterday when they became disoriented.
The man, identified as Mark Valentine, called emergency services about 5.30pm last night and later sent photos of the area to Parks Victoria staff from his mobile phone.
Grampians National Park ranger Andrew Dennis said after scrutinising the photos he identified the mountain range in the background as Redman's Bluff.
Staff looked at other photos of the area to confirm the mountain range and used mapping software to home in on the trio's likely location.
They were able to concentrate the search area to about one square kilometre."
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