A 46-year-old hiker has been rescued from the Larapinta Trail following a multi-agency response to an activated Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) yesterday afternoon.

Around 3pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received notification that a PLB had been activated near the Hugh Gorge Junction. The beacon was registered to a woman known to be hiking the trail alone.

The woman was able to contact emergency services via a two-way messaging device, advising she had sustained an ankle injury and was unable to continue walking.

NT Police Search and Rescue Section (SRS), Parks and Wildlife and St John Ambulance coordinated a response and located the woman approximately 3.5km south of Hugh Gorge Junction. A St John Ambulance paramedic and a NT Police member were transported by helicopter to a nearby landing area and hiked 4.3 km to the woman’s location, where they remained overnight to provide care.

This morning, NT Police members, Parks and Wildlife rangers and NT Emergency Service members drove to Hugh Gorge Junction and walked the 3.5km to the woman’s location. She was then carried back to Hugh Gorge on a stretcher and conveyed to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment to her ankle.

Sergeant Matthew Hall said, “This is a clear example of how beneficial it is to be adequately prepared for hiking expeditions in the Territory.

“Thanks to the hiker’s use of a PLB and communication device, we were able to quickly locate her and coordinate a safe and timely rescue.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this rescue and want to remind anyone who plans to explore the outdoors in the Territory to let people know you plans, buy a PLB or EPIRB and ensure you have enough food and water.”