MILLICENT State Emergency Service volunteers Paul Franzi and Andrew Sergeant have told of their satisfaction in locating stranded off-roader Michael Reid near Lake Bonney in Canunda National Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The 37-year-old Millicent man had endured harsh weather conditions over the previous two nights in the remote scrub after his 4WD vehicle had broken down and become bogged.
Mr Sargeant and Mr Franzi were part of an SES and police search party which went to the park late on Tuesday night after a relative of Mr Reid raised the alarm.
They spent five hours in the park, took an early morning break and resumed the search with others at 10am on Wednesday.
The two Millicent searchers located the stricken vehicle at about 1pm and then its owner about 2.5 hours later.
“He was not in a great shape and he was very pleased to see us,” Mr Sargeant said.
“We gave him some water and contacted the ambulance officers and we drove him out of there.
“I estimate we found him about 10km north of where his vehicle had been bogged.
“When we went out searching on Tuesday night, we had a rough idea of where he might be found.
“He had used his mobile phone and the signals had been picked up by the towers at Tantanoola, German Flat and Kongorong.”
According to Mr Sargeant, the stranded 4WD vehicle will be towed out of the park by National Parks personnel using a tractor.
A 10-year veteran with the Millicent SES, Mr Sargeant said the successful rescue of Mr Reid was good publicity for the unit.
“We may pick up some more members as a result,” he said.
“We need more volunteers and it is a good way of helping the community.”
