SES crews rescue four wheel drive

By ED MERRISON
TWO young men and a young woman were rescued from a fivehour ordeal last week after their 4WD became bogged in Toolangi State Forest.
Deputy controller of Healesville SES Geoff Stott said emergency crews were called out at 10pm on Sunday, 14 August to find the stranded driver and two passengers.
The emergency call came in as SES volunteers were removing a tree which had fallen in Don Road during high winds earlier that evening. Police were called in at midnight and what Mr Stott described as ‘a light vehicle, like a toy 4WD’ was found at 2.30am.
“It was bogged in water and mud up to the bumper bar,” Mr Stott said.
The incident comes a month after another lengthy rescue operation when a Croydon man and three teenagers were lost and bogged when driving through a restricted area in the forest.
The latest incident has caused the SES to renew calls for the public to exercise caution and common sense when undertaking such recreational trips.
“If you go out in the dark in a light vehicle and without the correct equipment, you’re asking for trouble,” Mr Stott said.
He repeated his advice that offroad expeditions include at least two vehicles and that drivers carry all the necessary gear to deal with problems.
“Like anything else, if you do it without the right equipment and preparation, you’re putting yourself and others at risk,” he said.