Inside Queensland’s complex mountain rescues as experts reveal what it takes to bring injured hikers home

In recent weeks, Australians have been confronted with the devastating reality of how quickly a day in the outdoors can turn into tragedy.

Teenage hiker Lily Hooper died after becoming lost during a bushwalk in NSW , while the death of Gold Coast magician Daniel Hidden after he disappeared during a hike has also left family, friends and the wider community grieving.

Both were experienced hikers who knew what they were doing in the outdoors.

The deaths have renewed attention on the unforgiving nature of remote terrain and the extraordinary effort required when something goes wrong far from help.

The rescue operation following can take hours, involving search and rescue teams with paramedics, firefighters, helicopters and carefully considered backup plans that must account for changing weather and difficult terrain.

On Mother’s Day last year, 65-year-old Bundaberg retiree Suzanne Tobin was about an hour into a difficult bushwalk on Mount Walsh when she lost her footing.

The local walking group was making its way through a rocky creek gorge, clambering over boulders and using trees for support.

“You had to hold onto trees at different points and anchor yourself with all four limbs and I just lost my footing and fell back,” Suzanne said.

“I only fell 1m but, unfortunately, my body twisted and I felt my leg go and I knew I had done some serious damage because I heard it break.”

The fall was relatively short but rescuers faced dense vegetation and steep and slippery terrain, making it impossible to carry her safely off the mountain. A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedic hiked into the scene to treat her and provide pain relief, while firefighters and fellow bushwalkers helped carry Suzanne on a stretcher through dense vegetation.

Rescuers broke branches and pushed saplings aside in an effort to clear a path, but the steep, slippery terrain and thick bushland made it impossible to carry her safely off the mountain.

LifeFlight pilot Tony Miller, who has spent four decades in the cockpit, was called in to attempt the difficult winch rescue. “It was up there with one of the most challenging land missions I’ve ever had,” he said.

The helicopter had to descend into the treeline and manoeuvre into a tight ravine surrounded by dense vegetation before Miller could position the aircraft for a medical team to be lowered to Suzanne.

“There was a high degree of difficulty for sure, and very little room for error. Very tight margins,” he said.