In what emergency services are calling nothing short of miraculous, a Victorian man has been rescued after spending three gruelling days trapped in his wrecked vehicle in remote Gippsland bushland.
Troy Milne's ordeal began when his car left the road and crashed down an embankment in the dense Strzelecki Ranges, approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. The 51-year-old found himself pinned in the driver's seat, his vehicle concealed from view by thick vegetation.
The Long Wait for Rescue
For seventy-two agonising hours, Milne remained trapped in the wreckage with limited mobility and diminishing supplies. The location's remoteness and the vehicle's hidden position made detection nearly impossible for passing motorists or aircraft.
"It's an absolute miracle he's alive," said Acting Sergeant Dean Crichton of Yarram Police, who participated in the rescue operation. "The terrain is incredibly challenging, and the vehicle wasn't visible from the road."
A Break in the Case
The breakthrough came when Milne's family reported him missing after he failed to return home from a trip. Police initiated a search operation, tracking his mobile phone's last known location to the general area where the accident occurred.
On Tuesday afternoon, officers conducting a ground search finally spotted the wreckage from a nearby ridge. What they discovered exceeded their expectations - Milne was conscious and communicating, despite his prolonged entrapment.
The Rescue Operation
Emergency crews faced significant challenges extracting Milne from the precarious position. The difficult terrain required specialist equipment and careful coordination between police, paramedics, and State Emergency Service personnel.
Remarkably, Milne sustained only minor injuries considering the circumstances. Paramedics assessed him at the scene before transporting him to hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
Lessons in Survival
This incident serves as a powerful reminder to all motorists travelling through remote areas:
- Always inform someone of your intended route and expected arrival time
- Carry adequate water and supplies in your vehicle
- Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged before journeys
- Consider carrying a personal locator beacon in isolated regions
Milne's survival story stands as a testament to human resilience and the importance of comprehensive search operations in remote Australian bushland.
