Footage of hikers’ dramatic rescue from NSW national park released

Police have released footage of a dramatic rescue operation after a group of hikers became stranded in a NSW national park.

A party of 11 people, including eight teenagers, was hiking in the Morton National Park, north-west of Ulladulla, when they became disoriented by heavy fog last Wednesday.

About 9.40am that day, the group activated an emergency radio beacon at Flying Fox Gully after accepting that they couldn’t extract themselves from the bush.

Police said the group included a 27-year-old woman, two men aged 32 and 43, and eight children – three girls and five boys – aged between 14 and 17.

A rescue operation was set in motion by NSW Police and other agencies, but because of the challenging weather conditions, it was impossible to rescue them that day.

The hikers were told to camp in place overnight, since they had enough food and provisions.

A paramedic was flown into the remote location to treat a 14-year-old girl who had developed hypothermia.

The next morning, police and ambulance helicopters flew back in to winch the entire group away to safety.

They were taken to Yarboro Flat Campground and the Milton helicopter pad. 

None of the group needed to be hospitalised.