Zig-zag Creek
Lost in the rugged Zig Zag Creek near Ewan, RAAF man Kenneth Neilson survived with little more than swim trunks, thongs, and a rifle. Townsville Bushwalkers assisted police and RAAF in the April 1962 search, highlighting the dangers and resilience in North Queensland’s wild speargrass country.
Assisting Somerville Police in search for lost RAAF man, Kenneth Neilson.
Location:- Zig Zag Creek area off Running River, near Ewan.
Date - 26 & 27 April.
Party - Paul Stephenson and Roy Lowe.
Map used - 4 Mgs Lands Department.
Transport - Police Department and RAAF.
Distance by vehicle - about 180 m
Style of country - open forest, much speargrass.
Working in conjunction with the Police department, Paul and I and two RAAF personnel covered a tract of country 1/2 mile width between the road to Zig-Zag Creek and Running River on a bearing of 200° magnetic. Returning we covered another 1/2 mile strip beside the own a bearing of 20°. We did not find him. He found himself at Ewan Hills (unsure what is written) Station home 25 miles away.
He also was lost and walked until he reached the coast. He crossed Running River, and kept going. He was lucky enough to strike a road which led him to Ewan Hills (unsure what is written). If he had missed this, he would have finished in jungle on top the Paluma Range.
He was a very lucky lad, for he had only a pair of swim trunks and thongs on his feet, and a .22 rifle with two cartridges left in the magazine.
