An app helped save the day for bushwalkers who lost their way on Macquarie Pass this week.
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On Monday night, SES volunteers from the Kiama unit, officers from the Illawarra Police Rescue Squad and Lake Illawarra command, and paramedics attended the Clover Hill Trail after four walkers got lost during an afternoon walk.
The walkers called for help about 9pm, as night set in.
They were able to provide their GPS coordinates at Macquarie Pass to police using the Emergency+ app, which meant police could easily find them.
Volunteers then hiked in and brought them out safely.
The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by emergency services and industry partners and uses the GPS functionality built into smartphones to pinpoint a triple-0 caller's location.
It also uses what3words software, which has assigned three words to every three square metres on earth - these words can be relayed to emergency services to provide an exact location.
The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
