Authorities Confirm the Death of the Third Hiker in Just One Week
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Sydney Dec 31 (NationPress) A man has tragically lost his life while hiking in the southeast Australian island state of Tasmania, marking the third hiker's death in the region within a week.
Tasmania Police reported on Tuesday that a man in his 30s, originally from the mainland state of Victoria, suffered fatal injuries after falling from a height while hiking in the Southwest National Park on Monday.
The incident occurred while he was attempting to summit the 1,225 metre-high Federation Peak around 11 a.m. local time, as stated by Tasmania Police Inspector Colin Riley during a press briefing on Tuesday.
His two female companions raised the alarm, leading to a search and rescue operation that began on Monday afternoon but was suspended overnight. Aerial and ground crews resumed their efforts on Tuesday, and the man's body was located at 9 a.m. local time, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
The deceased was subsequently retrieved by helicopter, and the other two hikers were also airlifted out, as confirmed by Tasmania Police.
This incident marks the third hiker fatality in Tasmania during the holiday season.
On Christmas Day, a bushwalker in his 60s was discovered deceased in Cradle Mountain National Park in northwestern Tasmania, and a 54-year-old man was found by a fellow hiker in the Southwest National Park on Saturday.
Authorities believe both of these fatalities were the result of medical episodes.
Additionally, two men in their 20s were rescued on Christmas Eve after facing difficulties while hiking near Federation Peak on December 23.
Inspector Riley noted on Tuesday that the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse, which includes Federation Peak, is one of the most challenging hikes in Tasmania.
"It is extremely hazardous, very steep, and slippery, and weather conditions can change rapidly," he remarked.
Meanwhile, in the mainland state of New South Wales, the search for a hiker missing in Kosciuszko National Park, located over 350 km southwest of Sydney, has entered its fifth day.
The search for 23-year-old Hadi Nazari from Melbourne commenced when he failed to meet friends as scheduled at a campground in the national park on December 26.
