Happy ending to bush rescue

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
POLICE have warned people to be better prepared in the bush after rescuing an elderly couple who had bogged their van in thick forest between East Warburton and Noojee.
The St Albans couple told a triple 0 operator they were stuck on a hill in their converted Ford Transit campervan but enough food, water and warm clothes to get them through the night on Thursday 26 April.
However alarm bells rang for Warburton police officers when they learned the van had begun sliding down the hill, the couple had medical conditions, no mobile signal and were not in the location they believed they were.
Senior Constable Rob Firns and Senior Constable Kevin Bishop were on duty when the call came through, and said previous experience led them to check out the situation.
“For the sake of thoroughness and experience, we know that sometimes where people think they are…they’re not,” Sen Const Firns said.
He said it took them almost two hours to winch the van to safety, which the police would not do under normal circumstances, and escort the couple to Noojee where they set up camp.
“With the location he was in, combined with the fact that he didn’t know what track he was on and the potential for medical concerns, we made the decision that we would tow him out,” he said.
“The gentleman was a victim of circumstance and if it wasn’t for those conditions then he could have stayed and organised with his insurance to get towed.”
Sen Const Firns said whether people were hiking or four-wheel driving, they really needed to research the conditions.
“Is it an area beyond the capabilities or skill level? Have they informed people where they will be and what time they are expected? Have they got the appropriate vehicle and recovery gear, maps, clothing?”
Roco Ivanovic, 62, and his wife Slavica, 56, were headed to a camping ground at Mount Baw Baw for the weekend but Mr Ivanovic said although they had a map, the signage wasn’t clear.
“Some intersections didn’t have signs and some were blasted with shot guns, it was already dark and we kept going thinking we’d get to the camping ground,” Mr Ivanovic said.
“After 10kms there was a dirt road and suddenly it went down and in a matter of seconds we were on a slope.
“We told the police we were not in immediate danger and had warm clothes and food to get us through the night, but we were pleasantly surprised when we heard a car coming and a knock on our van.”
Mr Ivanovic said he was keen to thank the Warburton police officers for their help.
“I must admit I was feeling a bit guilty and silly about the whole situation as I should’ve know better not to get myself into this mess in the first place, but it was just too late, it happened,” he said.