Authorities Confirm Death of Third Hiker in One Week in Australia's Tasmania
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Sydney Dec 31 (NationPress) A male hiker has unfortunately lost his life in the southeastern Australian island state of Tasmania, representing the third hiking fatality in the region over the course of one week.
Tasmania Police reported on Tuesday that a man in his 30s, hailing from the neighboring state of Victoria, succumbed after a fall while hiking in the Southwest National Park on Monday.
The incident occurred as he attempted to reach the summit of the 1,225 metre-high Federation Peak around 11 a.m. local time on Monday, as stated by Tasmania Police Inspector Colin Riley during a press briefing.
His two female hiking companions raised the alarm, prompting a search and rescue operation that commenced on Monday afternoon but was temporarily halted overnight. Aerial and ground teams resumed the search on Tuesday morning, ultimately locating the man's body at 9 a.m. local time, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The deceased was subsequently retrieved by helicopter, and his two companions were also airlifted to safety, according to Tasmania Police.
This marks the third fatality of a hiker in Tasmania during the holiday season.
On Christmas Day, a bushwalker in his 60s was discovered deceased in Cradle Mountain National Park located in northwestern Tasmania, while a 54-year-old hiker was found by a fellow trekker in the Southwest National Park on Saturday.
Authorities believe both of these fatalities were linked to a medical emergency.
Additionally, two men in their 20s were rescued on Christmas Eve after encountering difficulties while hiking near Federation Peak on December 23.
Inspector Riley indicated on Tuesday that the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse, which includes Federation Peak, is among the most treacherous hiking routes in Tasmania.
"It is extremely hazardous, with steep and slippery terrain, and weather conditions can change rapidly," he explained.
Meanwhile, in the mainland state of New South Wales, authorities have been searching for a hiker reported missing in Kosciuszko National Park, located over 350 km southwest of Sydney, for five days.
The search for 23-year-old Hadi Nazari from Melbourne began when he failed to arrive at a designated meeting point with friends at a campground within the national park on December 26.
