Missing trampers survive icy Australian gorge

SYDNEY - Eleven people missing without supplies in a remote Australian gorge emerged cold, tired but otherwise unharmed yesterday.

Their disappearance on Sunday sparked a frantic search by police, volunteers and rangers in the treacherous Karijini National Park as temperatures plunged to -5C.

The party of 10 tourists and their guide lost their way as night fell after a member of their original group fell into Knox Gorge.

When emergency crews arrived, the 34-year-old Japanese man had managed to climb back up to the top despite suffering neck, head and chest injuries.

He was taken to Tom Price Hospital where he is in a stable condition. By then the remaining members of the group, which comprised eight Japanese women, a Japanese man and a German woman, were lost as temperatures plummeted.

But the group appeared to have suffered no serious ill-effects, despite not being equipped for an overnight stay, according to police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Murray Lampard.

Although they had little or no camping equipment with them, they were wearing warm clothing and wetsuits.

Renowned as one of Australia's largest and most spectacular national parks, Karijini is one of the most popular with tourists, but does have a history of accidents.

Last April, James Regan, 36, of Newman, became the first State Emergency Service officer to die in the 40-year history of the West Australian service when he was swept to his death in a flash flood in Hancock Gorge. He was in the park to help two injured tourists.

Two weeks later, a 25-year-old man fell to his death in Dales Gorge while walking with 15 other people.

And last month, a German tourist had to be airlifted to hospital after falling 5m while bushwalking at Hancock Gorge. She escaped with a broken wrist.

- AAP