SITREP - Hiker Incident Briefing-October Updates
Updated: 3 hours ago
Daily updates each month of hiker related incidents in Australia and across the world. The purpose of these briefings is to provide an insight into the type of incidents that occur on trails and the consequences.
Hiker incident briefing — 19 October 2026
No new confirmed Australian incident, or incident involving an Australian overseas, was found in this scan.
Substantive update
Laguna del Inca, Portillo, Chile — incident 17 Oct; update 18 Oct. Three Chilean mountaineers died and four survived the avalanche previously reported. Two bodies were recovered; the third remained submerged as of Sunday evening. The Chilean Navy deployed cold-water divers and remotely operated underwater vehicles to assist recovery. Armada de Chile
New international reports
Mount Dixon, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand — incident and published 18 Oct. A man was trapped in an avalanche and found unresponsive after a search-and-rescue response. He died at the scene and his body was recovered. His identity and nationality were not released. New Zealand Police
Grande Nabois, Julian Alps, Italy — incident and published 18 Oct. A German climber fell more than 50 metres from the Cengia dei Camosci after an apparent handhold failure. She died and her body was recovered by helicopter. Reports disagree on her age, giving either 32 or 35. Ansa.it
Forcella Pordoi, Dolomites, Italy — incident/published 17 Oct; further reporting 18 Oct. A 36-year-old US hiker, Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, fell about 300 metres from an exposed section near the mountain-station trail. She died at the scene and her body was recovered. Later reports say she had moved toward a viewpoint for a photograph, but the precise circumstances remain under investigation. rainews.it
Huesca Pyrenees, Spain — incidents 14–17 Oct; published 18 Oct. Five separate Guardia Civil mountain-rescue callouts included a climber injured on Pico Aspe, a stranded 72-year-old in the Chorrota valley, a trail runner with a fractured fibula on Monte Oroel, a hiker with a dislocated hip near Viacamp, and two exhausted hikers at Ibón de Coronas. All were evacuated or assisted; no fatalities were reported. elespanol.com
Montgó, Dénia, Spain — incident and published 18 Oct. A 44-year-old trail runner was reported missing after failing to return. Searchers located him trapped on steep ground but uninjured; he was evacuated by helicopter. Cadena SER
Belluno/Dolomites, Italy — incidents and published 18 Oct. A 44-year-old hiker with an ankle injury was carried from Bivacco Murellon, while a 26-year-old US hiker who fell several metres below the Ferrata Strobel was winched to hospital with suspected ankle trauma and bruising. Separately, two lost hikers in the Cansiglio forest were winched out uninjured. Dolomiti
Grimming, Austria — incident and published 18 Oct. A 41-year-old Vienna man developed severe, persistent full-body cramps during an ascent and could not continue. Police helicopter and mountain-rescue personnel evacuated him to hospital. Ausseer Regionalfernsehen
Nagano Prefecture, Japan — incidents and published 17 Oct. A 30-year-old climber suffered a minor head injury after a short fall and subsequent 10-metre slide on Nunoiwayama; he was airlifted to hospital. On Kitayokodake, a 71-year-old hiker injured her knee while descending and was carried out by rescuers; her injury was assessed as minor.
Hiker incident briefing — 18 October 2026
No new Australian incident or incident involving an Australian overseas was identified.
International incidents
Location | Incident / publication | Latest verified information |
Laguna del Inca, Portillo, Chile | 17 Oct / 17 Oct | An avalanche swept seven Chilean hikers or mountaineers towards Laguna del Inca while they were heading for Los Tres Hermanos. The latest consistent official-based reporting confirms three fatalities and four injured survivors, one seriously. One deceased person reportedly remained in the lake during recovery operations. Earlier reports gave conflicting totals, so the figures may change. EL PAÍS Chile |
Pic Saint-Michel, Vercors, France | Missing since 10 Oct; found and published 16 Oct | A young German hiker was found dead on the mountain’s eastern side after authorities were alerted on 15 October. Mountain gendarmes and civil-security aviation located him the following morning; investigators believe he suffered a substantial fall. ledauphine.com |
Brünnstein, Bavaria, Germany | 16 Oct / 17 Oct | A 25-year-old solo hiker fell approximately 30 metres from a lightly used route and landed seriously injured in terrain hidden from the main trail. Another hiker heard falling rocks and groaning, located her and raised the alarm. Mountain rescuers moved her to a helicopter extraction point; later hospital condition was not reported. BR24 |
Pico Torres, Asturias, Spain | Missing 16 Oct; rescued 17 Oct / 17 Oct | A man hiking with a small dog became disoriented during his descent and sheltered overnight in a cave. Asturias emergency rescuers found him unharmed, supplied warm clothing and food, then used ropes on sections of the two-hour descent to the road. 112asturias.es |
Gleno Dam, Lombardy, Italy | Missing 16 Oct; found 17 Oct / 17 Oct | A 60-year-old hiker lost the trail and spent the night outdoors. Approximately 20 rescuers, supported by drones and search dogs, located him cold but reportedly in good health. bergamonews.it |
Bell Pass Trail, Arizona, US | 17 Oct / 17 Oct | A woman was struck on the head by a falling cactus about 3.2 kilometres from the trailhead. Technical-rescue crews removed her using a wheeled litter and utility vehicle before she was taken to a trauma centre. The precise injury and subsequent condition remain unknown. FOX 10 Phoenix |
Indio, California, US | 17 Oct / 17 Oct | Firefighters reached a hiker experiencing a reported minor medical emergency in a remote area and transported the person to hospital for evaluation. No further medical or nationality details were released. |
Hiker incident briefing — 17 October 2026
Australia — substantive update
Lizard Island, Queensland: Incident: 25–26 October 2025; update published: 16 October 2026. Queensland’s workplace-safety regulator has completed its investigation into the death of bushwalker and cruise passenger Suzanne Rees, 80, and referred the matter to the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor to consider possible charges. No charges have yet been announced. Separate maritime and coronial investigations remain open. theaustralian.com.au
No new incident involving an Australian overseas was identified.
Other international incidents
Location | Incident / publication | Latest verified information |
Mount Lafayette, New Hampshire, US | 15 Oct / 16 Oct | Lily Fine, 26, fell while descending the Old Bridle Path and sustained an unspecified serious injury. Twenty-two search-and-rescue volunteers and conservation officers carried her approximately 2.6 kilometres to the trailhead; an ambulance transported her to hospital. Later condition unknown. NH Fish and Game Department |
La Palud-sur-Verdon, France | 15 Oct / 16 Oct | A 65-year-old hiker suffered a reported cardiac emergency on the Sentier Martel. Mountain firefighters and a doctor arrived by helicopter but could not resuscitate him; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Cannes Tendances |
Mostuéjouls, France | 15 Oct / 16 Oct | A 73-year-old woman reportedly fractured an ankle on an inaccessible trail in the Cirque de Saint-Marcellin. A specialist mountain team winched her to safety, and she was taken to Millau hospital. Millavois.com |
Simcoe County Forest, Ontario, Canada | 14 Oct / 16 Oct | A hiker became separated from a companion and disoriented after dark. Police dispatchers used the hiker’s phone and what3words location to direct officers and a K9 unit; the person was found about 1.5 kilometres inside the forest, unharmed. bradfordtoday.ca |
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada | 13 Oct / 15–16 Oct | Two hikers became lost after nightfall and their phone batteries died, but they had already sent their last location to family. Provincial police located both by ATV shortly before midnight; they were safe, with no injuries reported. orilliamatters.com |
Hiker incident news
Hiker incident briefing — 16 October 2026
No new Australian incident or incident involving an Australian overseas was identified.
Substantive updates
Ruahine Forest Park, New Zealand — New details published 15 October: The 17-year-old rescued after becoming separated from his school tramping group reportedly fell, struck his head and was unconscious for an unknown period. He spent more than 18 hours missing before an RNZAF NH90 crew located and winched him from the Waipawa River Valley. His subsequent medical condition has not been published. odt.co.nz
Manaslu–Tsum Valley, Nepal — Update published 15 October: Approximately 100 foreign trekkers and 80 Nepali trekking workers were still awaiting rescue or safe relocation after flood and landslide damage severed trails and bridges. The Nepal Tourism Board requested urgent government coordination. Nationalities and individual medical conditions were not reported. thetourismtimes.com
New international incidents
Location | Incident / publication | Latest verified information |
Mount Shasta, California, US | 12–13 Oct / 14–15 Oct | Two day-hikers, aged 19 and 20, became stranded around 3,350 metres in temperatures of approximately –10°C. Their phones later died and searchers found them after about 36 hours, trapped in Cascade Gulch between 9–15-metre cliffs. Both were exhausted but uninjured and climbed out with assistance. ABC News |
Vall de Gallinera, Alicante, Spain | 14 Oct / 15 Oct | A woman fractured her tibia while hiking near Cova del Moro. A specialist helicopter team treated her at the scene and evacuated her to the Finestrat helipad for transfer to medical services. Later condition and nationality were not reported. MarinaAlta.es - Dénia FM |
Sentier des Roches, Stosswihr, France | 14 Oct / 14 Oct | A 72-year-old hiker fell approximately 15 metres below the technical trail, sustaining multiple head injuries and a serious elbow wound. Mountain gendarmes, firefighters and a doctor treated him before helicopter evacuation to Colmar hospital. He was reported seriously injured. dna.fr |
Hawkers Cove, Cornwall, England — delayed report | Incident 13 Sep / published 15 Oct | A coastal-path walker collapsed repeatedly. Members of the public provided initial assistance before HM Coastguard administered first aid and moved the casualty to the old lifeboat station for ambulance assessment. No subsequent condition was released. |
Hiker incident briefing — 15 October 2026
No new Australian incident or incident involving an Australian overseas was identified.
International incidents
Location | Incident / publication | Latest verified information |
Ruahine Forest Park, New Zealand | Separated 13 Oct; found and reported 14 Oct | A teenage student became separated from a Taradale High School group while tramping towards Sunrise Hut. Police and Land Search and Rescue searched overnight; a search-and-rescue helicopter located the student safe the following day, and he was reunited with his parents. 1news.co.nz |
Cabañes, Cantabria, Spain | 14 Oct / 14 Oct | A 22-year-old hiker became trapped on steep, inaccessible terrain. A rescuer and doctor were winched down, confirmed he was uninjured and extracted him by helicopter. No medical treatment was required. europapress.es |
Sugarloaf Mountain, Vancouver Island, Canada | 13 Oct / 14 Oct | A 59-year-old hiker fell approximately 15 metres down a cliff in Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park. The nine-hour operation involved fire, search-and-rescue and a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant long-line extraction. The casualty was airlifted to a Victoria hospital with multiple injuries; later condition is unknown. Muck Rack |
Mānoa Falls Trail, Hawaii, US | 13 Oct / 13–14 Oct | A woman in her 60s suffered a forehead laceration and could not descend safely. Honolulu firefighters provided basic life support and transported her by wheeled litter to ambulance personnel. Subsequent condition was not reported. Honolulu Fire Department |
Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia, US | Missing 11 Oct; recovered 12 Oct; published 14 Oct | Thomas Donnelly, 21, was swept away after losing his footing while his eight-person university mountaineering group crossed a high-flowing creek near Fisher Springs. Weather and darkness interrupted the search; his body was found the following afternoon. wchstv.com |
Montemarcello–Magra–Vara Park, Italy | 12 Oct / 13–14 Oct | An elderly visitor failed to return after walking alone on park trails. Firefighters and alpine rescuers located the person after about an hour in difficult terrain, reportedly in good condition, and handed them to medical personnel. Nationality and age were not published. lanazione.it |
Hiker incident briefing — 14 October 2026
Australia
Lerderderg Gorge, Victoria — Incident: 12 October; published: 13 October. Four hikers mistakenly followed an alternate route and became stranded 50–60 metres up a steep cliff near Graham’s Dam. A four-hour multi-agency rope rescue brought everyone to safety; none required hospital treatment. heraldsun.com.au
No new incident involving an Australian overseas was identified.
Other international incidents
Monte Musinè, Piedmont, Italy — Incident: 12 October; published: 13 October. A missing hiker aged about 80 was located near the summit at approximately 10:30pm with a head injury. He was stabilised, winched aboard a helicopter and taken to Turin’s CTO hospital in moderately serious condition. lasentinella.it
John O’Groats/Sannick Bay, Scotland — search update — Zuzana Gabrisova, 48, from the Czech Republic, has been missing since 6 October. Mountain-rescue, coastguard, dive and marine teams have joined the search. Police believe she headed towards Sannick Bay and was carrying walking equipment and a rucksack, although it is not confirmed that she was hiking when she disappeared. Police Scotland
Puerto de la Quesera, Spain — Incident: 12 October; published: 13 October. Two young women became disoriented and trapped in hazardous terrain. Guardia Civil mountain rescuers located them about an hour after the alert and evacuated them by helicopter winch to safety; no injuries were reported. Cadena SER
Campoo de Suso, Cantabria, Spain — Incident: evening of 12 October; published: 13 October. A 53-year-old hiker suffered a knee injury near Puente del Pozo del Amo. A regional emergency team and doctor reached and rescued him; the subsequent medical outcome was not reported. europapress.es
Huesca Pyrenees, Spain — Incidents: 11–12 October; published: 13 October. Guardia Civil reported eight additional mountain rescues across Sallent de Gállego, Hecho, Abizanda, Gistaín, Torla, Fanlo and Agüero. Cases involved falls, contusions, exhaustion and a knee sprain among hikers, trekkers and climbers; no fatalities were reported. Cadena SER
Mount Taylor, New Mexico, US — Incident: 10 October; published: 12 October. Search teams tracked a missing 69-year-old hiker to an isolated ridge during an overnight operation. After warming and rehydration, he was escorted through rugged terrain and airlifted to hospital. 96.3 KKOB
Heron Pike, Lake District, England — Incident: 11 October; published: 12 October. A walker in his 60s became severely unwell with dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Mountain rescuers and a coastguard helicopter evacuated him; after assessment, companions took him for further hospital care.
Hiker incident update — 13 October 2026
Australia
Lobster Falls Track, Mole Creek, Tasmania: Two bushwalkers fell approximately 7–10 metres down an embankment on 10 October. Tasmania Police Search and Rescue used vertical-rescue equipment to retrieve them by about 9pm. Neither was injured. Published: 11 October. Tasmania Police
No new incident involving an Australian overseas was identified. There is no substantive new information on Jordan Yap beyond yesterday’s confirmation.
International
Location | Incident / publication | Latest status |
Manaslu trekking region, Nepal | 11 Oct / 12 Oct | Flash flooding destroyed trails and bridges, leaving more than 100 foreign trekkers stranded at various locations. Authorities reported rescuing 321 people, including 12 foreign nationals; evacuation and supply flights were continuing. Five local villagers remained missing, with no confirmed deaths. Nationalities of the stranded trekkers were not published. internazionale.it |
Pizzocco–Pizzocchetto, Italy | 11–12 Oct / 12 Oct | A missing 26-year-old hiker was located overnight after apparently falling approximately 100 metres down rocky terrain. GPS data from his Garmin watch helped narrow the search area. Poor visibility delayed aircraft access; rescuers conducted a complex rope and stretcher recovery before he was winched out and flown to Treviso hospital in critical condition. rainews.it |
Dent Rouge, Bex, Switzerland | 11 Oct / 12 Oct | A 30-year-old French hiker suffered a fatal fall of approximately 300 metres while walking with two others. Rega and specialist helicopter rescuers attended but declared him dead. Authorities are investigating the cause. État de Vaud |
Abrams Falls, Tennessee, US | Missing 5 Oct; recovered 8 Oct / newly reported 12 Oct | Missing hiker Sahil Jilani, 24, was found dead in the waterfall pool after his vehicle and belongings were located near the trailhead. His family believes he drowned in powerful currents, but the official cause and a final National Park Service confirmation were not available in the latest reports. people.com |
Pico Espigüete, Spain | 12 Oct / 12 Oct | A woman aged about 40 was struck in the shoulder by a rock at approximately 2,100 metres. She remained conscious and was winched from the inaccessible terrain by a helicopter rescue team, then transferred to an ambulance. Subsequent condition unknown. cadenaser.com |
Mont-Rachais, La Clusaz, France | 11 Oct / 12 Oct | A 70-year-old hiker suffered an ankle injury. Dragon 74 evacuated him from the mountain and returned him to his vehicle; hospital treatment was apparently not required. Annecy Actualité |
Mount Chocorua, New Hampshire, US | 11 Oct / 12 Oct | A 22-year-old hiker slipped and injured his knee about four kilometres from the trailhead. Another walker climbed toward the summit to obtain phone reception and raise the alarm. Following splinting, rescuers assisted the casualty out on foot. |
Hiker incident update — 12 October 2026
Australian overseas — substantive update
Jordan Yap, Peru: Australian reporting now confirms that the deceased trekker is Melbourne man Jordan Yap, 30, resolving yesterday’s uncertainty caused by discrepancies in Peruvian reports. His family confirmed his death, and DFAT is providing consular assistance. His body was reportedly found near Mitucocha Lagoon in the Huayhuash region; the cause remains unreported. Incident: missing since 14 September; found 9 October. Published: 11 October. ABC News
No new domestic Australian incident was identified.
Other international incidents
Location | Incident / publication | Status |
Schrankogel, Tyrol, Austria | 10–11 Oct / 11 Oct | Two 18-year-old German climbers became lost in fog while descending the 3,497-metre peak. Darkness and snow forced rescuers to suspend the operation overnight. Both were found after approximately 16 hours, severely hypothermic, and flown to hospital. welt.de |
Huesca Pyrenees, Spain | 10 Oct / 11 Oct | Seven call-outs assisted 15 people. Cases included a 62-year-old walker with a suspected heart attack, several fall and ankle injuries, an exhausted 18-year-old, and three climbers who were exhausted and disoriented. Everyone was evacuated; the suspected cardiac patient was flown to hospital in Zaragoza. aragondigital.es |
Peñón de Ifach, Calp, Spain | 11 Oct / 11 Oct | A climber suffered an open leg fracture in a fall during an ascent. A rescue helicopter extracted the casualty for transfer to medical services; subsequent condition is unknown. elespanol.com |
Monte Bolón, Elda, Spain | 11 Oct / 11 Oct | A 69-year-old walker injured his shoulder and back in a fall and could not continue. He was extracted by helicopter and handed to medical personnel. Cadena SER |
Seytroux, Haute-Savoie, France | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | A walker in his 50s sustained rib injuries in a fall. A civil-security helicopter evacuated him to Thonon-les-Bains hospital. ledauphine.com |
Whernside, England | 10 Oct / 11 Oct | Police reported an overdue, uncontactable walker. The person was subsequently confirmed safe and well, and the mountain-rescue call-out was cancelled. The Cave Rescue Organisation |
Sale Fell, England | 11 Oct / 11 Oct | A walker sustained an ankle injury. The initial location was incorrect, so responsibility was transferred to Cockermouth Mountain Rescue. The available report does not state the eventual medical outcome. The Cave Rescue Organisation |
Mount Morgan, California, US | Incident 4–6 Oct / newly reported 11 Oct | Brian Seibert, 53, was found dead after becoming overdue during a solo ascent. Searchers determined that he had summited before suffering a fatal fall during his descent; his body was recovered on 7 October. |
Hiker incident briefing — 11 October 2026
Australia and Australians overseas
Peru’s state news agency Andina and broadcaster RPP report that the Australian missing on the Huayhuash circuit was found dead on 9 October at Machaycancha, Queropalca, Huánuco. His body was transferred to the Huánuco morgue; the circumstances remain under investigation. Both reports were published 10 October. Agencia Andina
Identification caveat: They name him “Jap Jordan Hao”, aged 31. The itinerary and disappearance details match Jordan Yap, previously described in Australian coverage as 30. This appears to concern the same person, but I have not found Australian official or family confirmation resolving those discrepancies. Agencia Andina
No new domestic Australian incident was identified.
The following international reports are additional to previous briefings. Dates are local; all are October 2026.
Location | Incident / publication | Latest verified information |
Maiella, Italy | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | Five hikers became exhausted, wet and cold near Monte Amaro at approximately 2,600 metres. Rescuers reached them and began an escorted descent; the operation was still underway in the latest report. NUOVO Cityrumors Abruzzo Notizie |
Mount Olympus, Greece | Last contact 20 Sep; found 9 Oct / 9 Oct | Israeli hiker Ami Yogev, 46, was found dead by volunteer rescuers near Mavrologgos stream at approximately 1,840 metres. The search had lasted nearly three weeks. tovima.com |
Hakuba-Norikura, Japan | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | An 82-year-old man was found collapsed near Hakuba Ōike. Police helicopter crews evacuated him, but death was confirmed at hospital. Cause was not reported. fnn.jp |
Pibeste, French Pyrenees | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | A 49-year-old man hiking with friends suffered a fatal fall near the summit. Helicopter-delivered mountain rescuers attended; an investigation is underway. lasemainedespyrenees.fr |
Pīpīwai Trail, Maui, US | 9 Oct / 9 Oct | A 33-year-old visitor suffered head injuries and fluctuating consciousness after a fall. Crews carried him out for air-ambulance transport. Hospital condition unknown. Separate from the previously reported 69-year-old’s accident. mauinow.com |
China Wall, Utah, US | 9 Oct / 10 Oct | A roughly three-metre fall in a boulder field caused a serious lower-leg injury. Rescuers completed a litter evacuation; family transported the hiker to hospital. Gephardt Daily |
Cebu City hills, Philippines | 8–9 Oct / 10 Oct | A missing 23-year-old solo hiker was found after an overnight search and taken to hospital with minor injuries. Authorities were examining the circumstances. Banat |
Hogback Mountain, Michigan, US | 9 Oct / 10 Oct | A woman and her dog became lost after leaving the trail. SAR personnel located and escorted both out uninjured. uppermichiganssource.com |
Entzia, Basque Country, Spain | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | A 62-year-old Spanish woman suffered a back injury affecting leg movement. A police helicopter extracted her for hospital transfer; subsequent condition unknown. Eusko Jaurlaritza |
Cepeda, Spain | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | Two walkers lost near Mirador del Madroñal were guided to safety using audible signals from a Guardia Civil vehicle. Noticias de Salamanca |
Monte Verzegnis, Italy | 10 Oct / 10 Oct | A man became ill at approximately 1,750 metres. Cloud initially prevented helicopter access; ground teams assisted before a weather opening allowed winch evacuation to an ambulance. Studio Nord News |
Penitentes, Argentina | Rescued early 10 Oct / 10 Oct | A 22-year-old mountain traveller became lost in Quebrada de Vargas. Rescue personnel brought him to safety around 12:30am; medical outcome was not established. |
Hiker incident briefing — 10 October 2026
Australia and Australians overseas
No newly published Australian incident or verified substantive update concerning Australian hikers was found. Jordan Yap remains missing in Peru, with no confirmed development in the past 48 hours.
International incidents
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California, US — Incident 8–9 Oct; published 9 Oct. A 66-year-old visitor from Colorado became lost near Ossagon Trail. Searchers found him at 2:05am in good condition; he required no medical treatment and was escorted out. Humboldt County News
Hunter Creek Trail, Nevada, US — Incident 8 Oct; published 9 Oct. A woman experiencing an unspecified medical condition became unable to continue about three kilometres up the trail. Rescue and ambulance personnel carried her out by mobile stretcher and transferred her for medical care. Her subsequent condition and nationality were not reported. KRNV
Summit Lake area, Oregon, US — Incident 6 Oct; published 9 Oct. An overdue hiker who became separated from his brother was located uninjured during a nighttime search and guided back to the trailhead. kval.com
Las Cañadas del Teide, Tenerife, Spain — Incident 8 Oct; published 9 Oct. A 32-year-old woman suffered a fall while hiking. Emergency crews evacuated her with trauma assessed as moderate, and she was taken to hospital. Her nationality was not reported. canariastimes.com
Oridda, Villacidro, Sardinia, Italy — Incident overnight 8–9 Oct; published 9 Oct. Two hikers, aged 35 and 39, became stranded after dark in difficult terrain. An air-force helicopter located them electronically; alpine rescuers then reached them on foot and escorted them to their vehicles shortly before 3am. No injuries were reported. cagliarinews.it
Rayil Gund forest, Ganderbal district, Kashmir — Incident 8–9 Oct; published 9 Oct. Two youths from Srinagar became lost while trekking and called emergency services before contact was lost. Police and State Disaster Response Force teams found both safe after an overnight search.
Hiker incident briefing — 9 October 2026
Australia and Australians overseas
No new domestic Australian incident was identified, and there is no verified substantive update in the search for Jordan Yap.
Australian overseas
Via Romea Germanica, Tuscany, Italy — Incident: 7–8 October. Published: 8 October. An 82-year-old Australian walking alone between Chitignano and Subbiano was reported overdue after his phone stopped connecting. Ground teams, dogs and drones searched overnight; a fire-service helicopter located him in steep terrain around 9:15am. He was cold but apparently in good condition and was transported to Arezzo hospital for assessment. ilfattoquotidiano.it
International incidents
Mount Morgan North, California, US — Incident/search: 4–7 October. Published: 8 October. Brian Seibert, 53, was reported overdue after summiting the 3,964-metre peak. Searchers used cellphone forensics, dogs, a UAV and several aircraft before following his tracks down Grand Central Couloir and finding that he had suffered a fatal cliff fall. His body was recovered by helicopter on 7 October. MONOSAR
Dhauladhar Range, Himachal Pradesh, India — Incident: 5–8 October. Published: 8 October. Five trekkers aged 28–35 remained out of contact for more than 24 hours amid heavy snowfall while travelling toward remote Bara Bhangal. A local resident subsequently confirmed by satellite phone that all five had reached the settlement safely. newindianexpress.com
Old Stage Road area, Colorado, US — Incident: 7 October. Published: 8 October. An injured hiker was evacuated from mountainous forest by a Colorado National Guard helicopter and taken to hospital. The injury and current condition were not disclosed. gazette.com
Bardenas Reales, Navarra, Spain — Incident/published: 8 October. A 70-year-old woman fell near Faldas del Fraile and sustained a suspected minor ankle fracture. A technical-rescue helicopter extracted her for ambulance transport to hospital. Pamplona Actual
Red Hollow, Utah, US — Incident: 1 October; substantial injury details published 7–8 October. A 20-year-old woman fell approximately 30 metres in pre-dawn darkness and became wedged between rocks. She sustained head, limb and possible torso injuries; rope-rescue personnel lowered her to the canyon floor before helicopter evacuation. Her current condition remains unknown. KUTV
New York State, US — Incidents: 3–4 October; official ranger roundup published 8 October. Rangers helicopter-hoisted a seriously ill 23-year-old from Big Slide Mountain, carried a 48-year-old reporting a possible heart attack from Mount Jo to aeromedical transport, and hoisted an 18-year-old with a non-weight-bearing knee injury from Seymour Mountain. Subsequent medical outcomes were not reported.
Hiker incident briefing — 8 October 2026
Australia and Australians overseas
No new verified Australian incident or substantive update in the search for Australian hiker Jordan Yap was found.
International incidents
Mount Whitney, California, US — Incident: body found 5 October; recovered 6 October. Published: 7 October. Kalem Peter Kazarian, 52, died while hiking in Sequoia National Park. His route, circumstances and cause of death remain undetermined; the park is investigating. sfchronicle.com
Pīpīwai Trail, Maui, US — Incident: 6 October. Published: 7 October. A 69-year-old visitor suffered a hip injury and abrasions in a fall. Firefighters found him in heavy foliage and assisted him to the trailhead for medical care. His nationality was not reported. mauinow.com
Rock Island State Park, Tennessee, US — Incident: 6 October. Published: 7 October. A 70-year-old woman injured her head in a fall. Multiple agencies used rope systems to carry her from the trail and transfer her to emergency medical responders; her subsequent condition was not reported. wsmv.com
Sambuca Pistoiese, Tuscany, Italy — Incident/published: 7 October. An 83-year-old hiker fell approximately 6–7 metres into a ravine, sustaining serious head trauma. He was winched out and taken to hospital in critical condition. TVL
Riserva dello Zingaro, Sicily, Italy — Incident/published: 7 October. A 43-year-old Italian woman was injured while hiking and urgently winched to hospital by an Italian Air Force search-and-rescue helicopter. The nature of her injuries was not disclosed. La Sicilia
Riserva dello Zingaro, Sicily, Italy — Incident: 6–7 October. Published: 7 October. A 74-year-old English hiker became lost after dark, exhausted and dehydrated. Mountain-rescue teams located him around midnight and escorted him to an ambulance. La Sicilia
Tofane, Dolomites, Italy — Incident: 6 October; additional coverage 7 October. A 63-year-old Italian hiker died after falling about 70 metres into a gully below the route between Cima Formenton and Bivacco Baracca degli Alpini. His body was recovered by helicopter. la Repubblica
Chartreuse massif, Isère, France — Incident: 5 October. Published: 6 October; updated 7 October. An 85-year-old hiker reported being lost in steep terrain and was geolocated through his phone. Ground rescuers subsequently found him dead below a cliff after an apparent fall of roughly 100 metres.
Hiker incident briefing — 7 October 2026
Australia and Australians overseas
No new Australian search or rescue incident was identified. There is no verified change in Jordan Yap’s status since yesterday’s briefing.
Australian development
Lily’s Locators — Wollondilly, NSW
Wollondilly Council has approved a pilot program established following Lily Hooper’s death in Nattai National Park. Fifteen PLBs will be available for bushwalkers to borrow free from three locations, with commencement expected by late October. news.com.au
International incidents
Cabin Creek Trail, California — missing 2 October; located 4 October; reported 6 October: Mary Beth Granbery, 72, was found about five kilometres from the trailhead after apparently falling approximately 30 metres down an embankment. She may have remained injured and exposed for several days. A helicopter evacuated her to hospital, where she remained in critical condition when reported. sfgate.com
Imbros Gorge, Crete — missing 4–6 October: A 73-year-old British hiker failed to make contact after entering the 11-kilometre gorge. Police launched a search on Tuesday and found him safe and in good health inside a makeshift shelter he had constructed. eKathimerini.com
Appalachian Trail, Tennessee — 5–6 October: An injured hiker became immobile approximately three kilometres from Snowbird Tower. Multiple agencies completed a difficult nighttime litter carry lasting almost 12 hours, with relief crews required as the initial rescuers became exhausted. The casualty was transported to hospital; injury details and subsequent condition were not disclosed. wvlt.tv
Mount Hunger, Vermont — incident 4 October; reported 6 October: A 47-year-old woman injured her ankle near the summit. Fifteen rescuers reached her, provided treatment and assisted her descent before carrying her for the final section. northeastexplorer.com
Worth Mountain, Vermont — incident 3 October; reported 6 October: A multi-day backpacker sustained a significant ankle injury approximately three kilometres into the forest. Search-and-rescue personnel used a wheeled litter to move him over rough ground before transferring him to ambulance services.
Hiker incident briefing — 6 October 2026
No new Australian domestic incident was identified in the past 24 hours. There is, however, a substantive update concerning an Australian missing overseas.
Australian overseas
Jordan Yap — Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru
Jordan Yap, 30, remains missing, with no confirmed location after 19 days.
Peruvian High Mountain Police are continuing searches around Cuartelhuain, Carhuacocha, Huayllapa, Viconga, Llamac, Pocpa and secondary routes.
Police report he travelled near a group of Israeli trekkers for part of the circuit but was not formally with them. The latest reported indication of his whereabouts dates to 19 September.
Problems with his satellite communication device reportedly prevented rescuers obtaining a confirmed GPS position. Infobae
Other international incidents
Cohutta Wilderness, Georgia, USA — 3–4 October:
A missing hiker was found several kilometres off-trail in a deep ravine. Deteriorating condition, darkness and difficult terrain prompted a night helicopter winch extraction. He was transported to hospital; his current condition has not been released. CBS Atlanta
Crown Mountain, British Columbia, Canada — 3 October: A 16-year-old solo hiker became trapped beneath a cliff after following an AI-generated route that directed him towards technical climbing terrain. North Shore Rescue located him and completed a helicopter hoist evacuation. He was frightened but apparently uninjured. CastanetKamloops.net
Little White Mountain area, British Columbia — 3–4 October: Fourteen Central Okanagan SAR volunteers searched for an injured and possibly lost hiker. Ground medical teams and off-road vehicles located the group, treated the casualty and brought everyone out safely at approximately 2:30 am. kelownanow.com
Tham Luang National Park, Thailand — 3–5 October: Three men became stranded after entering the Doi Chong forest. Two were recovered on 4 October; the final missing man was found exhausted and without food on 5 October. All three were located alive, and the search was closed. khaosodenglish.com
Cooks Pond, New Hampshire, USA — 4 October: A 76-year-old woman was injured while walking on a trail. Rescuers carried her approximately 400 metres by litter to a waiting ambulance. The nature and severity of her injury were not reported. NH Fish and Game Department
Scott’s Gulf Wilderness State Park, Tennessee, USA — 2 October; reported 5 October: A woman suffered a serious leg injury after falling from a trail. Rescue teams reportedly spent about six hours accessing and extracting her. Her subsequent medical condition was not disclosed.
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