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eTrex® to the rescue during medical emergency
in the Outback
On an outback four-wheel driving tour several weeks ago, we were
camped on Kalamurina Station ("station" is Aussie for
"ranch"). Kalamurina is about 200 km long by 50 km wide
and is bounded by the Simpson Desert on the west, Sturt's Stony
Desert to the north and east and Tirari Desert to the south and
east. We were camped on the Warburton River about 20 km from the
homestead along very faint tracks and across several very large
and featureless clay pans (like dry lakebeds). Around the edges
of the clay pans were numerous dead trees and stumps that would
certainly slash a tire if you hit them.
On Saturday afternoon we went out driving and had our Garmin®
eTrex recording our track. On Sunday morning about 3 a.m.,
I was awakened with news that a woman from one of the other cars
was moaning with agony from chest pains. As trip leader, it fell
to me to take Isabelle to the homestead so we could call the Flying
Doctor.
I was very apprehensive about finding the homestead in the pitch
dark, not to mention the delays that would be caused by a tire
spiking. Our savior was our trusty eTrex. I zoomed in the track
display and retraced our drive of the previous afternoon to find
our way across the clay pans and onto the relatively well-defined
track. We arrived with minimal delay, called the doctor in Port
Augusta, over 800 km away, and then waited for the plane and doctor
to arrive and evacuate Isabelle to the hospital, where she was
diagnosed as having had an angina attack.
Thanks for a great product.
R.R.
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