Men stranded on Uluru spark online outrage

Three men stranded on Uluru have sparked an angry backlash on social media.

Uluru in the Northern Territory

Source: AAP

The men strayed off the path, resulting in an estimated 20 thousand dollar, eleven-hour rescue mission.

Specialist vertical climbers from the Northern Territory emergency services team reached the trio late Monday night and were able to bring them to safety.
Although climbing Uluru is not banned, Traditional Owners request tourists don't climb the cultural site and respect its sacred significance.

People took to social media in anger to condemn the tourists who climbed Uluru, despite pleas from local Anangu people to stay off.
Climbing Uluru is a dangerous experience; there have been more than 30 deaths and last year, a Taiwanese tourist was freed with multiple injuries after becoming trapped in a crevice for more than 24 hours.

Hypothermia, head injuries, fractures to his pelvis and several limbs were just a few of the injuries the 27-year-old suffered from.
Anangu traditional owner and chairperson of the board of Uluru- Kata Tjuta National Park, Sammy Wilson recently  that Anangu traditional owners continue to oppose visitors climbing the rock.

“This is a sacred site that belongs to the Anangu, and some people say they want people to climb. Why? That is the big question,” he said.
Sammy WIlson
Source: NITV News
“We’re not making money, the people, at the moment,” he says. “If people go and climb Sydney Harbour Bridge they make money, and this place they’re climbing, Uluru, this is from our ancestors.

"Why are they looking on top? They’re looking at nothing, they’ve got to learn and walk around Uluru.”

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Published 20 September 2016 5:30pm
Updated 21 September 2016 11:49am
By Laura Morelli


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