This article is about a failure that was entirely predictable, entirely preventable, and entirely hidden until it was not. Dean Anson Sanderson's death during a zipline ride in Far North Queensland clearly falls into that category, a termination failure that exposes how superficial assurance and visual checks can lull organisations into thinking life-critical systems are safe. In December 2019, a zipline cable failed mid-span in the Daintree region, sending two riders plungi

When systems break down in the field, the consequences are rarely abstract. They are human, immediate, and irreversible. Two recent publications, the coronial findings into the death of backcountry skier Andrew Seton and the 2024–25 Major Incidents Report, reinforce the same blunt truth. Time, communication, and decision clarity determine outcomes. I have seen this reality firsthand. As a former member of Bush Search and Rescue Victoria (BSAR), regularly called out to assi

When the temperature drops and the wind howls through Victoria’s high country, decisions made in comfort can turn critical in minutes. Two rescues near Mount Buller this week made that painfully clear. This photo, taken by me of my climbing mate on Mt Bogong in 2015, shows deteriorating weather. The Victoria Police Search and Rescue team received calls on consecutive nights to locate stranded hikers. Tuesday evening saw the retrieval of the first hiker, a 49-year-old man, wh

For some of us, travel is more than a work requirement. It is a way of life. Between site visits, training camps, and activities with organisations such as the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) and Bush Search & Rescue (BSAR), I have clocked more kilometres than I care to count. Airports, roadhouses, gravel car parks and remote bivouacs all blur into one. While the variety keeps things intriguing, it also brings unique safety and well-being challenges that must be manage