Post by Franklin1 on Aug 2, 2008 21:22:16 GMT 10
G'day All,
Some useful info here about the dangers of camping under red river gums on the Murray river. Not sure how long the link will last, but the gist of the story is that a 37 yr old man had camped at a National Park ground near Echuca for 20 years. In late 2002 he pitched his tent in the park, setting it up away from overhanging limbs, as experience had taught him. Two mornings later at 8am a branch fell in a slanted trajectory and crashed onto his tent during high morning winds, leaving him with permanent brain damage. It was presented in court that "An experienced camper, Mr Larner had always been wary of falling branches and set up his tent away from overhanging limbs. But he did not know that the limbs of river red gums fall unpredictably, often spinning out further then might be expected."
You can read the full story at this link:
www.theage.com.au/national/injured-camper-gets-6m-damages-20080728-3max.html?skin=text-only
I seem to remember reading on this forum some time back that these trees are referred to as "widow makers" ?? I'm not from that part of Oz so this story is a useful bit of info for me to store away.
cheers,
Al.
Some useful info here about the dangers of camping under red river gums on the Murray river. Not sure how long the link will last, but the gist of the story is that a 37 yr old man had camped at a National Park ground near Echuca for 20 years. In late 2002 he pitched his tent in the park, setting it up away from overhanging limbs, as experience had taught him. Two mornings later at 8am a branch fell in a slanted trajectory and crashed onto his tent during high morning winds, leaving him with permanent brain damage. It was presented in court that "An experienced camper, Mr Larner had always been wary of falling branches and set up his tent away from overhanging limbs. But he did not know that the limbs of river red gums fall unpredictably, often spinning out further then might be expected."
You can read the full story at this link:
www.theage.com.au/national/injured-camper-gets-6m-damages-20080728-3max.html?skin=text-only
I seem to remember reading on this forum some time back that these trees are referred to as "widow makers" ?? I'm not from that part of Oz so this story is a useful bit of info for me to store away.
cheers,
Al.
