Lost hikers in Kosciuszko National Park rescued within five hours by AI-powered drone
Two men in their 20s, who strayed from a trail in Kosciuszko National Park, were found in under five hours using a Fire and Rescue NSW drone equipped with artificial intelligence and thermal imaging.
Two hikers who went missing in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales were rescued in less than five hours thanks to a drone powered by artificial intelligence. This was the first mission of its kind for Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).
The men, both in their 20s, were reported missing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday after they failed to meet at a designated point. FRNSW deployed its remote piloted drone, which used thermal imaging to locate the hikers. The pair had been walking the Dead Horse Gap track, about 35 km southwest of Jindabyne.
While the drone searched, the hikers used a red light on their mobile phone to attract its attention in the dark. The drone’s built-in speaker allowed communication, and its spotlight guided ground rescuers to the men, who were found about half a kilometer off the track. Despite cold conditions, they suffered only mild exposure and declined medical treatment.
Phillip Eberle, Fire and Rescue inspector and regional duty commander for the NSW Alpine area, said the technology likely cut search time by days. "It’s definitely helped make what could have been a long-term incident into a very short-term incident," he told the ABC. "There’s every chance in the world we could have still been out there."
Eberle emphasized that the drone not only speeds rescues but also reduces risks for responders. "It means less time on the mountain and less time looking for people, and reduced risk so that the volunteers can get home to their families quicker." He hopes future drones can drop emergency supplies to stranded individuals, saying, "We can save putting rescuers at risk overnight and drop a rescue pack to people so they’re OK overnight, and be there first thing in the morning when it’s safer for everyone."
Fire and Rescue commander John Marzol urged hikers to notify the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) before treks and register for free use of Personal Locator Beacons to avoid getting lost.
