Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has successfully used an AI-powered drone to rescue two hikers who went missing in Kosciuszko National Park, marking a first for the technology. The two men, in their 20s, were reported missing at 7pm on Tuesday after failing to return to a rendezvous point near Jindabyne.
The drone, equipped with thermal imaging and a speaker, located the hikers about half a kilometre off the Dead Horse Gap track. The men used a red light on their mobile phone to attract the drone in the dark. The drone's spotlight then guided ground rescuers to their location.
Rescued within five hours, the hikers were suffering mild effects of exposure but declined medical treatment. FRNSW Inspector Phillip Eberle said the AI detection system potentially reduced the search time by several days, calling it a 'very short-term incident' compared to what could have been a lengthy operation.
Eberle highlighted the reduced risk for rescuers, noting that volunteers could return home sooner. He also expressed hope that future drones could drop emergency supplies to stranded individuals, minimising the need for overnight rescue missions.
FRNSW Commander John Marzol urged hikers to notify the National Parks and Wildlife Service before treks and to register for free Personal Locator Beacons to prevent future incidents.
