Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has condemned as 'ridiculous' and 'stupid' a group of hikers who required rescue from kunanyi/Mount Wellington on Monday afternoon amid severe weather, with wind chill making the temperature feel like -21.6C.
The group of 13 hikers, who set out on a day hike with mobile phones but minimal food, water, and no overnight gear, called emergency services at 4.15pm from a hard-to-reach section of the mountain. On their descent at 1,100m altitude, they encountered another five similarly unprepared hikers, according to Tasmania Police.
Inspector Darren Latham expressed frustration that warnings issued since last week by police, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the SES had been ignored. 'Bushwalkers should always prepare for the worst. Our emergency service personnel often put their own lives at risk during rescues, so it is frustrating when the situation could have been avoided,' he said.
City of Hobart chief executive Michael Stretton warned there was no guarantee stranded walkers could be rescued, urging the public to avoid the mountain in extreme conditions. Police Inspector Kathy Bennet told ABC Radio Hobart the walkers endangered lives, noting that search and rescue resources were already stretched due to flood response preparations.
Premier Rockliff said the rescue diverted resources from other critical services. 'We cannot afford to have any resources diverted simply because of people's stupidity of not heeding those warnings,' he said.
