Not Waving but Drowning

How to signal for help

Learn from the story of Carl McCunn. Five months after being dropped in a remote corner of backcountry Alaska, the Texas born wildlife photographer began to worry. The details he had left with friends and family were vague. He thought he had organised a plane to pick him up, but had he made it clear to the pilot? And then, one day as his hope was low, he heard a plane. We can read the rest in his diary: "I recall raising my right hand, shoulder high and shaking my fist on the plane's second pass. It was a little cheer - like when your team scored a touchdown or something. Turns out that's the signal for 'ALL O.K. DO NOT WAIT!' Man, I can't believe it!"

Taking a locator beacon and telling someone where you are heading will improve your chances of being found should you get into trouble in the bush. And if you are lost, advice from the Mountain Safety Council is, “stay put, stay calm, stay warm and plan, if you must move make sure that you easily and obviously mark your route so the search party can find it.”

There are a range of techniques you can use to attract help, from bright clothes and shining a torch to making a racket – this is no time to be shy. Fire a gun if you have one, although make sure to point it in a safe direction. You don’t want to shoot the very people coming to your rescue. Other handy noise makers are pots and pans or a whistle.

Fire is particularly useful as a help signal - bright at night and smoky during the day if fuelled by green wood. In addition to fire, you can attract the attention of a plane or helicopter by flashing a mirror and spelling SOS with something that contrasts with the bush like your clothes and gear.

Other ways to stand out include shaking a tree or tying something bright to one, like a pack liner (there’s a reason they only come in fluro). Something that flaps is best.

Finally, those help signals, internationally recognised body language for when things go wrong. Officially, both arms outstretched, raised above your head to make a 'Y' is the sign for help needed. Although waving both arms overhead is also usually recognised as a distress signal – so don’t do it if you’re only trying for an enthusiastic hello.

By the sounds of it, McCunn went wrong in raising one arm above his head while leaving the other at his side. This mimics an 'N' for no and, as he sadly found, means no help is needed. His body was found another five months later.