While 4WD adventures are a hoot, the harsh reality is that sometimes things do go wrong. This was the reality for one husband and wife duo who found themselves in a shocking position on the Talawana Track!
The Talawana Track runs for 596 kilometres through the Western Australian desert. It starts at Windy Corner on the Gary Highway and runs all the way to Newman. This remote unsealed track is one of the toughest to combat. Last month, on Monday August 29th, a husband and wife duo were on that very track. The isolation of the Talawana Track prompts all who come from near and far to have enough food, water and fuel to keep them going through the isolation. You’re not exactly going to find a petrol station on your route.
The couple were travelling along the track at 10:30am, when suddenly their four-wheel-drive caught fire. Things were not looking great as they were more than 120 kilometres deep into the 596 kilometre Talawana Track. Unfortunately the vehicle did not make it and was completely destroyed, but thankfully the couple escaped the inferno. What they did next saved their lives.
Taking note of the isolated track, the couple travelled with a satellite phone in tow. Amongst the escape from the vehicle, they managed to remove the phone from the fire. They then called triple-0 with the satellite phone. Without it, they may have found themselves stuck with no assistance in the scorching Gibson Desert.
As they were so remote, the call reached South Australia Police, who transferred it to Western Australia Police. The closest police station to the couple was Jigalong, which was a huge six to eight-hour trip away. Instead, the BHP Air Ambulance, based in Newman, were assigned the job to rescue the husband and wife. They were then rescued at 9am on Tuesday morning. This was almost 24 hours following the vehicle catching fire.
The importance of preparation
This story highlights the importance of preparing for the unexpected. Thankfully the couple had a satellite phone on board and a portable charger, to keep the phone alive before their assistance arrived.
Like anything, there are instances where we count our lucky stars that we return home in one piece after hearing a story of misfortune. Although we hope that nothing will ever go wrong on our adventures, the old adage of “it’s better to be safe than sorry” should ring through our minds every time we pack. In the best case scenario, this equipment is never used. But in the event of a catastrophe, it could well save your life.
