Family push for Emergency Location Signs

PIC: Supplied

The family of Kim Johnston, the woman who drowned at Lane Poole Reserve earlier this year, want location signage to be installed on site to help prevent long response times from emergency service that could potentially save someone's life.

Stacy O'Shea, Kim's mother, is calling on local government and emergency services to install potentially life-saving location advice signs at the site where she tragically lost her daughter earlier this year.

Stacy and her three children, 22-year-old Kim, 17-year-old Aaron and 15-year-old Rhys headed for Lane Poole Reserve in Dwellingup on January 24 this year, after looking around the nature reserve the family stopped at the dwaarlindjinaap swimming area. 

The Mandurah family stopped their water fun for a brief lunch then continued into the swimming hole around 1.00pm.

The three children indicated they were moving on in the water to inspect a bank and waterfall.

After her two brothers had crossed, Kim lost grip on a rock she was holding in the water and heavy rapids forced her down.

Instead of flowing down stream she was stuck in a rock formation, similar to a cave or crevice, for up to 10 minutes.

Stacy, an ex-nurse, knew her daughter was gone, but pushed past the logical to try and save her child and best friend.

Kim's brothers started CPR in the middle of the rapids while women nearby called emergency services, requesting Police and Ambulance.

Stacy said she remembered talking to an ambulance operator, giving details of her daughter over the phone at one stage discussed moving Kim from the water.

Aaron and Rhys were able to move Kim's body three times using ropes, floaties and chaining themselves together, before continuing CPR.

Stacy said it took Police an hour and a half to travel the 28km from Pinjarra to Dwellingup, while Ambulance officers arrived from Waroona over two hours after the call was placed.

Ms O'Shea said the emergency services were fantastic and couldn't praise them anymore for the job they do, but her issue was with response times for remote areas and location signage.

As Police continued to work on Kim, the 'head ranger' on duty told Stacy she was fully aware of the increased force of the rapids that day due to a large rainfall a couple days prior, but no warning signs of risk were around the park. 

"My Question is why were there 10 amazing and more people from the public doing CPR on my daughter in the middle of rapids for over 2 hours, when all the response teams are less than 30km away, but took 1.5-2 hours," she said.

"They had many answers for us but they got lost was the main response on the day."

The O'shea/Johnston family's issue was  also with the naming of Dwaarlindjinaap, they said it was too difficult to pronounce and while they understand the need to use Indigenous names, it could be an important factor in relaying ones location during an emergency. 

"I also would like to see implemented sign location numbers and GPS locations, similar to the Beach Emergency Numbers recently rolled out in The City of Mandurah and hopefully every other council soon," Ms O'Shea said.

"Everyone needs to be able to read and communicate signs in national parks.

"The sign giving location, names with GPS, not only will help Ambulance, Police, and Rangers but will also provide assistance for issues like snake bites, drowning, broken bones, vehicle breakdowns, fire and any sort of rescue needs."

Stacy and her boys would like to see Kim Emergency Location Signs at paid entry national parks and areas patrolled by rangers. 

"It may not have helped Kim on the January 24 but it would of helped the boys trying to save her. I understand that funding may be an issue with the rollout of these signs but how can you put a cost on someone’s life and possibly many others."

The family also called for a full investigation into the suction and flow of rapids at Dwaarlindjinaap and an investigation by the Department of Parks and Wildlife into the lack of warning signs and the professionalism of the “head ranger” at Lane Poole Reserve.

Kim was 22-years-old, she had recently completed a nursing degree at Murdoch University and was just weeks out from graduating.

Close friends of Kim said they did not know anyone to be closer to their family. 

 

 

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