KEY POINTS:
Images sent to park rangers from a mobile phone were instrumental in rescuing three people lost in rugged country in a Victorian national park.
A 46-year-old man was hiking with his son and niece, both aged 14, in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria on Wednesday when they became disoriented.
The man, identified as Mark Valentine, called emergency services in the early evening and later sent photos of the area to Parks Victoria staff from his mobile phone.
Grampians National Park ranger Andrew Dennis said the photos indicated that the emergency crews out searching for the trio were in the wrong area. After scrutinising the photos he identified the mountain range in the background. Staff used mapping software to home in on the trio's likely location.
They were able to concentrate the search area to about one square kilometre. The group was found mid-morning.
"They ended up being 400m from where we estimated them to be," Mr Dennis said. "With the technology of camera phones it is extremely handy and it was a great idea on his behalf," he said.
- AAP
