Reviews
What other people sayTrish Doyle, State Member for the Blue Mountains
“This non-fiction book is unlike any other and has a suspenseful and engaging style while it tells the stories of many Mountains mishaps.”
Australian Journal of Emergency Management
“The book includes some incredible stories of survival and resilience, as well as the amazing tenacity and vigilance of emergency services personnel. This book is a useful guide for what can go wrong, particularly when someone is under-prepared or takes unnecessary risks in an environment as wild and untamed as the Blue Mountains.”
Normal price $55 or $35 plus postage for SES or RFS members (free delivery in the Blue Mountains LGA),
Blue Mountains Gazette review 3rd December 2024
” ‘Mountains Mishaps: death and misadventure in the Blue Mountains’ takes readers on a riveting journey through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, exploring over 150 years of search and rescue operations, incidents and the brave individuals involved.
Readers will be transported from bush rescues to road, air, and railway incidents, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with exploring the Greater Blue Mountains. The book goes beyond narrative entertainment, offering valuable insights to readers on how to enjoy their journey in the Blue Mountains safely.
‘Blue Mountains visitor numbers have returned to pre-COVID levels and it’s more important than ever to ensure they enjoy their stay without a mishap. More than 200 people are rescued every year, with many spending an unexpected night in the bush.’ said Mr Webber.
‘However, few of these stories are ever heard, so social influencers and glossy guides get away with not telling you how to visit safely. They don’t tell you how likely you are to get a broken ankle and have to be helicoptered out, or stuck overnight in freezing weather.’
Among the tales are extraordinary survival stories, such as that of British backpacker, Jamie Neale, who left Katoomba Youth Hostel in July 2009 to walk to Mt Solitary. He took a wrong turn and spent 12 days missing in the bush before he was miraculously found.
And the 1983 case of Nancy Crews, a 58-year-old Bullaburra woman who fell 70 metres from Honeymoon Lookout in Katoomba and was stopped from falling further only by a dead tree projecting out from a narrow ledge 200m above the valley floor. Constable Garry Thornton was winched down the cliff face to a small ledge nearby and then had to inch his way along the narrow ledge to Mrs Crews, without wearing a safety harness. Eventually the winds dropped enough to lower a stretcher and Mrs Crews was saved.
One man survived an air crash and a week of freezing temperatures without food in some of the most rugged terrain. A couple got lost in the same place twice in the same weekend, and had to be rescued each time. Another man tried to cross Wollemi National Park with only some potatoes and naan bread in his backpack.
The book is supported by the NSW Government (Create NSW) and by the SES Volunteers Association.” https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/8813582/mountain-mishaps-survival-in-the-blue-mountains
Read "The Sydney Bushwalker" review
The Sydney Bushwalker is the magazine of the Sydney Bushwalkers Club. The editor came to Katoomba in February 2025 and interviewed me about the book.