Stranded for 12 Hours: Melbourne Father and Son Rescued by Billionaire in Outback
"We were just so relieved to see that chopper." — Bill Kosky
A weekend adventure turned into a 12-hour ordeal for a father and son from Middle Park, Melbourne, after their Toyota became bogged in floodwaters near Lake Eyre in South Australia’s far north.
The stranded pair were rescued by a private helicopter piloted by Western Australian billionaire Tim Roberts. The dramatic rescue unfolded after Roberts overheard locals discussing the missing travelers at the William Creek Hotel.
Hoping to assist, Roberts recruited local legend Trevor Wright to help guide the aerial search. Together, they scoured the remote landscape and eventually spotted the stranded vehicle.
The father, Bill Kosky, expressed profound relief upon being rescued, calling the moment they saw the helicopter "the best sight."
The rescue highlights both the dangers of remote outback travel during flood season and the crucial role of local knowledge—and private generosity—in the vast, unforgiving terrain of South Australia.