Melbourne father and son survive a terrifying ordeal in the remote South Australian outback after being stranded in harsh, unforgiving conditions, before a dramatic intervention by a billionaire leads to their rescue and return to safety
A father and son who spent more than 12 hours stranded in remote floodwaters have been saved by a billionaire businessman who happened to be stopping at a nearby pub.
The tourists, from Middle Park in Melbourne, were travelling in a Toyota that became hopelessly bogged in mud in South Australia’s far north after a massive storm swept through the area.
“I drove out towards Lake Eyre on the road and there was a huge storm,” one of the stranded men, Bill Kosky, said.
“Everything started to get flooded and I got bogged and I was left there.”
With minimal phone signal and no way out, the pair texted emergency services who contacted the William Creek Hotel for help.
“Fortunately … a very kind gentleman in a helicopter was flying past and came and picked us up,” Kosky said.
Their rescue came from an unexpected source, billionaire businessman Tim Roberts.
Roberts had stopped at the pub for the night.
He took to the sky in his helicopter with local legend Trevor Wright to locate and rescue the father and son.
From high above, the two stranded tourists appeared as just a speck on the vast waterlogged landscape, barely visible against the flooded terrain.
“I’ve travelled these parts after floods for 20 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Kosky said.
