Police are expressing frustration at the latest bushwalker mishap, after poorly-prepared men got stuck on Cradle Mountain this week.
Two Burnie locals called for the Westpac Rescue helicopter after getting stuck in steep terrain on Tuesday night.
Police say the pair had minimal food and water and nothing to survive a night in the elements if things went wrong.
Emergency personnel ended up walking the pair to safety; authorities say the Westpac chopper is a vital service for genuine emergencies.
“It was a sunny, clear day at Cradle Mountain, and had the two walkers not gone off track, they would not have got lost,” said Inspector Steve Jones of Western Search and Rescue.
“Bushwalkers should always prepare for the worst, and while the weather was great yesterday, that can change rapidly. Our emergency service personnel often put their own lives at risk during rescues, so it is frustrating when the situation could have been avoided.”
