For avid traveler Ron Wilson, hitting the road and heading out bush in his caravan is the ultimate bliss. But this time last year, he almost didn’t make it home.
The plan was a three-month solo expedition from his hometown in Katandra (regional Victoria), through Central Australia and up to Darwin.
Two nights into his trip, Ron stopped at Lake Hart on the Stuart Highway, making an immediate connection with Queenslanders Tony and Nancye who were on a similar outback trek.
After a quick pitstop to fix some car troubles together, Ron bid farewell to his new friends and continued another 600 kilometres to Agnes Creek, a remote rest area near the SA-NT border.
He planned to stay overnight before continuing north the next day. But it is here where Ron’s caravan would remain eerily still for the next three days… with no sign of life.
Unbeknown to anyone, Ron had mysteriously passed out. He was unconscious and alone.
Meanwhile – almost 2,000km away – Ron’s family sat waiting at the phone for his overdue daily check-in.
Prior to his trip, his daughter Syndi had asked him to send a message every night.
When that message didn’t arrive on Monday night, or again on Tuesday night, concern quickly grew for both Syndi and her mother – Ron's wife of 56 years – Fay.
“When anyone of that age goes out in the middle of nowhere, you do have concerns,” Syndi said.
“We knew something was wrong.
“You have this inner conflict between, ‘something’s wrong, I’ve got to act and, ‘he’ll be okay, he’s just out of service.’”
In a stroke of luck, Ron’s newest friends Tony and Nancye – travelling the same route – arrived at Agnes Creek a day after Ron.
They recognised his car and caravan immediately. But something wasn’t right.
The caravan was sealed shut, with no signs of life — unusual in the extreme heat, and enough to raise alarm.
“Having told us he was heading to Alice Springs, he should have been further ahead,” Tony said.
Tony’s persistent knocking went unanswered for hours. After managing to make his way inside the caravan, he found Ron on his bed in the middle of the afternoon.
“I thought he was dead,” Tony said.
He jumped up, but he was very incoherent and confused. I knew something wasn’t right.
Tony, outback travellerIn concern for Ron, Tony and Nancye drove 100km to Kulgera Police Station, directing police officers back to Ron’s caravan for a welfare check.
When police arrived, they detected a strong smell of LPG gas. Recognising the danger, they acted quickly.
Ron's exposure to the gas had starved him of oxygen and rapidly caused central nervous system depression. With prolonged exposure, Ron would have very likely fallen into a coma.
Fading in and out of consciousness, time was critical and Ron needed emergency medical help – the Royal Flying Doctor Service was called to respond.
The RFDS Port Augusta Base rapidly assembled a team with a critical care doctor, flight nurse and pilot, and started locating Marla as the closest airstrip to Ron.
Often provided with limited time and information, RFDS aeromedical crews prepare for every scenario, packing a range of equipment including ventilators, oxygen, blood supplies, extraction equipment and emergency medications.
When the police phoned Syndi and Fay with the news, they were overwhelmed with relief.
Although she was unable to be with Ron herself, Fay held onto the reassurance of those caring for him.
“The police were lovely. The Flying Doctor was lovely,” Fay said.
“All these people just popped up out of nowhere and said, ‘it’s alright – we’ve got this.”
The RFDS safely airlifted Ron to Port Augusta Hospital, where he spent days being treated and monitored.
As Fay and Syndi raced from Victoria to be with Ron, his son Corey flew to Alice Springs to retrieve the car and caravan – slowly trekking it all the way back to Katandra.
Ron’s recovery was slow, but determined.
“He was significantly impaired after coming home. He could barely talk or walk,” Syndi said.
Between neurologist appointments, Ron took up darts, word searches and memory games to rebuild coordination and cognitive strength.
Nearly a year on, Ron has returned to routine and is enjoying spending time with family.
“He’s a lot better now – leaps and bounds. He’s just got his driver’s licence back,” Syndi said.
With an initial goal to spend three months in total isolation, he came home with two new friends for life.
“Tony and Nancye saved dad’s life. Even with my concerns and my mum’s concerns, we would have been too late,” Syndi said.
“They’re stuck with us now… whether they want to be or not.”
While Ron remembers little of the ordeal itself, one thing remains clear — the care he received.
“It was like being cared for as if I were a newborn baby,” he said.
“The combined actions of Tony, the Kulgera Police and the RFDS quite literally saved my life.
The Flying Doctor’s swift response and compassionate care enabled me to be transported safely to Port Augusta Hospital and ultimately return home to my wife, four children and five grandchildren. Because of you, I’m here.
Ron
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