Man, 66, Saved from Flood After 5 Days in Australian Outback: Report

66-Year-Old Man Saved from Rising Flood Water After 5 Days Stranded Alone in Australian Outback: Report

Tony Woolford was reportedly airlifted from the desert on Wednesday, March 26 and taken to Birdsville

Published on March 27, 2025 07:24AM EDT

Line and salt pan in distance, Munga-Thirri National Park, Simpson Desert, outback Queensland, Australia — Munga-Thirri National Park, Simpson Desert. Photo:
Alamy

66-year-old Tony Woolford was reportedly rescued on Wednesday, March 26 after being stranded in the Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert in Queensland, Australia for five days
Heavy rainfall prevented Woolford's car from being able to drive, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The South Australian man had reportedly planned to explore the 4WD track Madigan Line for three days

A 66-year-old man has reportedly been rescued after being stranded for five days alone in the remote Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert in Queensland, Australia.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Tony Woolford was airlifted from the desert on Wednesday, March 26 and taken to the small town of Birdsville.

The South Australian man had been stuck without phone service as rising floodwater prevented his vehicle from being able to drive on Saturday, the ABC added.

"It's been quite an adventure," Woolford, who planned to explore the 4WD track Madigan Line for three days, told the outlet.

Described as in a stable condition and high spirits, Woolford told ABC that the incident was "quite daunting.”

“I tried to proceed the next morning, only got another 9 kilometers (5 miles) down the track and there was more rain."

PEOPLE has contacted the Queensland Police Service and National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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4wd crossing dunes on the QAA Line Track, Munga-Thirri National Park, Simpson Desert outback Queensland, Australia — Munga-Thirri National Park, Simpson Desert.
Alamy

"There was this really heavy downpour and this channel filled up within 20 minutes," he added. "It was overflowing and got to a point where it was a meter away from my car. I thought I would float away."

Authorities reportedly received an alert on Sunday, March 23 that travelers were stranded in the desert.

Aerial view of Birdsville, QLD, Australia — Aerial view of Birdsville.
Getty

While the two groups subsequently reached their goal destinations or went back to Birdsville, Woolford still had not been rescued, according to ABC.

However, he said volunteers from radio network VSK 737 were able to reach him through his high-frequency radio, checking on him multiple times a day.

"The operators there were really good," he told ABC. "They kept my family in the loop and made arrangements for me to get back to safety.”

Woolford continued, “I did start to feel a bit hopeless but I was very grateful for the communication …talking to those guys kept me sane."

During his time in the desert, Woolford reportedly slept in his car and would explore his surroundings when he could. He also had food and water to last him a week.

"I also harvested rainwater … in a tub I put under my awning," he said.

According to ABC, Woolford thanked radio operators, Birdsville authorities and emergency services for executing his evacuation.

Per the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website, an alert posted on March 24 confirmed that Munga-Thirri Simpson Desert National Park was one of three deserts “closed until further notice due to large rain events across the northern outback, which have resulted in track closures and impassable terrain.”

The park added that the desert has rainfall in excess of 13 inches. “All tracks in these parks are impassable with extensive bog holes,” the release read.

On Monday, March 24, The Guardian also reported that large areas of the Northern Territory and western Queensland had been put under a flood warning — with more than 2.75 inches of rain falling within an hour over normally dry areas.

This comes after Cyclone Alfred struck the east coast of Australia with gusts of winds over 62 mph on March 7.

The BBC reported that thousands of homes were left powerless amid the heavy rain. A 61-year-old man also died in the floodwaters according to the outlet.

Despite his own brush with the flood waters, Woolford told ABC that he doesn’t plan on stopping his explorations of the outback anytime soon.

"As soon as conditions permit, I'll get back up here and retrieve my car," he said. "Then the holiday will continue."