Australian father and son’s car got stuck in a storm and they were stranded in the outback for 12 hours; billionaire Tim Roberts happened to save them in a helicopter
A Melbourne father and son who were stranded for 12 hours in the remote South Australian outback with no mobile phone coverage were eventually rescued in an unusual way by a Perth billionaire who flew his own helicopter from a nearby pub.Bill Koski and his son, both from Melbourne’s Middle Park, were on a dream holiday to see Lake Eyre fill up with water. As they drove their Toyota along the difficult Halligan Bay Road, a sudden and violent storm hit them in South Australia’s far north.Heavy rain quickly turned the unsealed dirt road into deep dirt and clay, leaving their four-wheel drive completely bogged down. Far from help and with little to no phone signal, the pair managed to send a brief emergency message before the signal went out. They were then forced to spend the night alone in the dark, flooded desert.
A lucky encounter in William Creek
Their rescue comes during an unlikely meeting at a remote outback site. Perth billionaire and experienced pilot Tim Roberts landed his private helicopter at the William Creek Hotel on the Oodnadatta Track, where he planned to spend the night.While at the pub, Roberts learned emergency services were looking for two travelers who had not returned from a trip to Lake Eyre. After hearing about their situation, he decided to put aside his plans and help.Roberts joined forces with local Outback resident Trevor Wright, who understood the difficult conditions in the area. The pair piloted Roberts’ helicopter through flooded areas to search for the missing travelers.Finding the vehicle is not easy. Viewed from above, the vast area of mud and water made the Toyota nearly invisible. After a period of searching, they finally found the vehicle and landed nearby, ending the father and son’s terrifying wait.“I thought you were in the military or something,” Koski told Roberts as the pilot stepped out of the helicopter.
Car trapped after a big storm
Risks growing for Lake Eyre tourism
The rescue occurred during an unusually wet period in the South Australian outback. Heavy rainfall flooded many unsealed roads, posing dangers to unprepared visitors.Halligan Bay Road, which connects to the Oodnadatta Track, is considered a challenging route even in dry conditions. Communications services in the area are limited, making emergencies more difficult to handle.Wright said emergency crews and locals rescued 28 people in the area over six weeks. The increasing number of incidents highlights the dangers faced by visitors heading inland to witness the rare sight of Lake Eyre filling up.
billionaire pilot
While Roberts’ wealth drew attention, he also had the skills needed for a rescue. He is an experienced pilot and holds air transport licenses for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.Roberts is one of three children of John Roberts, founder of Australian construction company Multiplex. The company built a number of important landmark buildings before being sold to Canadian investment firm Brookfield in 2007. The sale brought total proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion to the three Roberts brothers.After the sale, Roberts invested his share of the family fortune in several business ventures. Most of his investments are in his Perth Airport-based private airline AvWest and hedge fund manager Warburton Group.
