Thredbo landslide remembered 22 years on
Summary
TLDRThe transcript recounts the tragic 1997 Thredbo landslide in which a freak event buried two ski lodges, trapping 19 people. Rescuers struggled to find survivors in the rubble until firefighter Stephen Hearst detected a sound. After 65 hours, ski instructor Stuart Diver was miraculously rescued alive, although his wife, Sally, perished. The emotional rescue marked the only survival in the disaster. Today, the victims are honored with memorial events, including the Thredbo flare run, to commemorate the lives lost during the tragedy.
Takeaways
- 🚆 Mrs. Ward parked an express train or jet at the beginning of the script.
- 🏔️ A landslide occurred on July 13, 1997, at Thredbo ski resort, burying two ski lodges under debris.
- 🌊 The landslide was triggered by leaking water mains, causing mud to slide down steep slopes.
- 🏠 Nineteen people were trapped under tons of debris, including concrete from the destroyed lodges.
- 🧑🚒 Firefighter Stephen Hearst was part of the rescue operation, trained in urban search-and-rescue.
- 🔊 Amid the rescue, Stephen Hearst heard a sound, leading to the discovery of a survivor.
- 🛏️ The survivor was Stuart Diver, who had been trapped under rubble with his wife Sally, who tragically drowned.
- 🛠️ Rescuers had to work carefully to avoid causing further collapse while trying to free Stuart.
- ⏳ After 65 hours, Stuart Diver was rescued alive, marking an emotional moment for all involved.
- 🕯️ The victims of the disaster are remembered annually with memorial events and a Thredbo flare run.
Q & A
What caused the landslide in Thredbo on July 13, 1997?
-The landslide was triggered by leaking water mains, which caused mud to thunder down the steep slopes of the Thredbo ski resort.
How many people were initially trapped under the debris following the Thredbo landslide?
-Nineteen people were trapped under debris and tons of concrete.
What were the immediate challenges faced by the rescuers in reaching the trapped victims?
-The main challenges were the large amounts of debris, tons of concrete, and the fact that the rescuers could hear people calling for help but didn’t know exactly where they were located.
Who was Stephen Hearst, and what role did he play during the Thredbo rescue operation?
-Stephen Hearst was one of the few firefighters trained in urban search and rescue at the time. He played a crucial role in the search and rescue efforts by identifying signs of life under the rubble.
How did the rescuers discover the only survivor, Stuart Diver?
-Stephen Hearst heard something unusual amidst the noise of concrete cutting machinery and chainsaws. He called for silence, and they heard the voice of Stuart Diver.
Who was Stuart Diver, and what happened to him during the landslide?
-Stuart Diver was a ski instructor who became trapped under rubble with his wife, Sally. While Sally drowned, Stuart survived and was found alive after being pinned under slabs of concrete for over 65 hours.
What were the conditions like for rescuers during the Thredbo landslide rescue operation?
-The conditions were challenging, with rescuers having to navigate unstable ground, thick debris, and dangerous concrete slabs that couldn’t simply be removed without risking further collapse.
How long did it take to rescue Stuart Diver after the landslide?
-It took 65 hours after the landslide for rescuers to find and safely pull Stuart Diver from the disaster site.
What emotional response did Stuart Diver’s survival evoke in the rescuers and the public?
-Stuart Diver’s survival was an emotional moment for everyone involved, as it was the only successful rescue, providing a glimmer of hope in an otherwise tragic situation.
How is the Thredbo landslide tragedy remembered today?
-The victims of the Thredbo landslide are remembered through a series of memorial events, including the weekly Thredbo flare run, which is dedicated to those who lost their lives.
Outlines
🚆 A Desperate Search After the Thredbo Landslide
In the early hours of July 13, 1997, a landslide occurred in the snowy village of Thredbo, Australia, devastating two ski lodges. Triggered by leaking water mains, the mudslide carried away a chalet, crushing another lodge below it where senior staff members were staying. The incident buried 19 people under debris, sparking a desperate search to find survivors. As rescuers began hearing faint voices, they couldn't locate the trapped individuals, making the operation more challenging.
🧑🚒 Trained Firefighters Face Grim Odds
Among the first responders was Stephen Hearst, a firefighter trained in urban search-and-rescue. The difficult terrain made the rescue operation perilous, with uneven ground and treacherous conditions. Despite their best efforts, hope dwindled as days passed without locating survivors. Rescuers described the chances of finding anyone alive as slim, with days of effort failing to reveal signs of life beneath the rubble.
👂 A Faint Sound Amidst the Chaos
Just as hopes seemed lost, Hearst heard a sound that caught his attention, despite the noise of machinery and chaos at the site. He called for silence, convinced he had detected something. After a moment of stillness, they realized it was the voice of Stuart Diver, a survivor trapped beneath the rubble for over two days. This marked a turning point in the rescue efforts, as the team refocused on extracting Diver.
⛑️ The Race to Save Stuart Diver
Stuart Diver, pinned under concrete slabs, had survived while his wife, Sally, tragically drowned beside him. Rescuers faced a delicate operation to free him, ensuring the heavy debris wouldn’t collapse further. The team carefully worked to prevent additional falls of concrete that could endanger Diver, using techniques that resembled unplugging a sink. After 65 hours of painstaking work, Diver was finally pulled from the wreckage.
🎖️ A Sole Survivor and a National Tragedy
Stuart Diver, a 30-year-old ski instructor, was the only survivor of the Thredbo landslide. His emotional rescue was a moment of triumph amidst tragedy. The nation rallied behind him, offering prayers and support. Diver expressed his deep gratitude to those who had helped him through the ordeal. Despite the rescue, the incident claimed 18 lives. Today, the victims are remembered annually, with a special dedication during the Thredbo flare run, honoring those who were lost in the disaster.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Thredbo
💡Landslide
💡Rescue Effort
💡Stewart Diver
💡Sally Diver
💡Memorial Events
💡Concrete Slabs
💡Firefighters
💡Survivor
💡Urban Search and Rescue
Highlights
A desperate search began after a landslide buried ski lodges in the Thredbo village on Wednesday, July 13, 1997.
The landslide was triggered by leaking water mains, causing mud to cascade down the slopes of the Thredbo ski resort.
Two ski club lodges were destroyed, trapping 19 people under tons of debris and concrete.
Rescue teams could hear trapped individuals calling out but were unable to locate them immediately.
Stephen Hearst, a specially trained firefighter in urban search-and-rescue, was on-site during the search efforts.
Hope of finding survivors faded after three days of continuous digging, with the chances described as remote.
Against the odds, firefighter Hearst heard an unusual sound amidst the noise of machinery, which led to a call for silence at the site.
The sound turned out to be the voice of Stuart Diver, the only survivor of the disaster.
Stuart Diver was found alive two and a half days after the landslide, talking and smiling but in shock.
Stuart and his wife Sally had been pinned under the rubble as they slept; unfortunately, Sally drowned during the disaster.
Rescuers had to carefully remove slabs of concrete to prevent further collapse while freeing Stuart.
65 hours after the tragedy, Stuart Diver was successfully pulled from the ruins, becoming an inspirational story of survival.
This was an emotional moment for everyone involved, as Stuart was the only person rescued alive from the landslide.
Stuart Diver expressed overwhelming gratitude for the support and prayers he received during his rescue.
22 years later, the victims of the Thredbo landslide are remembered with memorial events, including a flare run dedicated to those who lost their lives.
Transcripts
mrs. ward just parked an express train
or jet Faridah going low and quickly
over here a desperate search for 20
people after a landslide varies to ski
lodges in the snowy mountains village of
thredbo Wednesday July 13 1997 the earth
gave way triggered by leaking water
mains mud thundered down the steep
slopes of the thredbo ski resort just
before midnight a freak landslide picked
up a chalet sweeping it onto a lodge
where senior thredbo staff was sleeping
to skate Club lodges were destroyed
burying those sleeping inside
nineteen people were trapped under
debris and tons of concrete they can
hear people calling out unfortunately
they can't get to them they don't really
know where they are next to go we think
our boss is stuck under there as well so
it's pretty young yeah target 8 at the
time Stephen Hearst was one of only a
handful of firefighters trained in urban
search-and-rescue the Archaea grain of
the site was bought a young a high
degree of one foot at foot level and one
around wastelander good footing because
of the sheer sheer Swiper this I hope
soon faded of finding anyone alive for
the last three days rescuers have been
digging for survivors until this morning
the chances of finding anyone alive were
described as remote
that's until firefighter Hearst heard
something I just heard something
unfamiliar to this day know what it was
but something that just should have been
there and this was in the midst of
concrete cutting machinery chainsaws you
name it going on and I turned my
colleague and said I've heard I think we
call for silence on the side and got all
Pelton shut Leon and the rest is history
it was the voice of Stewart diver
we have located definite signs of
somebody's alive under this side two and
a half days after the landslide a
survivor is found in the ruins talking
smiling barely injured but in shock
Stewart and his wife Sally became pinned
under rubble as they slept
Sally drowned and it soon became a race
against time to save Stewart's under
quite a few slabs of concrete said of
course you couldn't just jack him on the
concrete because of the fall didn't on
him it had to be you know I'm concussed
too like a plug in a sink to make sure
the concrete did you fall below then 65
hours after the tragedy an amazing story
of survival from thredbo today 30-year
old ski instructor
Stuart diver pulled from the disaster
site alive and this is quite an
emotional time for everyone because it
does appear that um we're finally making
contact Stuart was the only survivor a
lot of people who've prayed for me given
me so much support over the last couple
of days it's been overwhelming and I
don't think I would've made it through
22 years on the victims are remembered
with a series of Memorial events on July
30 on the week of the anniversary the
weekly thredbo flare run is dedicated to
those who lost their lives
[Music]
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