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Papua New Guinea attack kills two porters and injures trekkers Papua New Guinea attack kills two porters and injures trekkers
(35 minutes later)
Bandits have attacked a group of Australian and New Zealand trekkers in Papua New Guinea, killing two of their local porters. Australian and NZ trekkers attacked by bandits in remote, mountainous northern Papua New Guinea – in an attack that also killed two porters – suffered knife wounds and had to walk six hours to reach help.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said members of the group, including Australians, one New Zealander and a number of PNG nationals, were injured during the attack. Daniel King, husband of trek leader Christie King, said the group of eight Australians, one New Zealander and a group of 15 local porters was attacked by bandits at about 3.30pm on Tuesday.
However, none of the injuries was life threatening. Two PNG porters were killed.
The spokeswoman said the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby was aware of the attack, which occurred on the Black Cat Track in PNG's Morobe Province on Tuesday. They were attacked while walking on the Black Cat track between Wau and Salamaua in Morobe province in northern PNG.
"Everything's OK, in terms of the group," King said.
"A few of them have cuts and bruises and stitches. We have a plan now to get them out this afternoon.
"They were about six hours out. They were at their first camp when the incident happened, and they had to walk with injuries."
After the attack, the Australians and the New Zealander decided to leave the porters and seek help, heading in the same direction as their fleeing attackers.
Helicopters are being sent to pick up injured porters.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) spokeswoman said none of the tourists' injuries were life-threatening.
"The attack resulted in the deaths of two PNG nationals who were porters for the group," she said. "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who were killed.""The attack resulted in the deaths of two PNG nationals who were porters for the group," she said. "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who were killed."
The Dfat spokeswoman said the group's trekking company arranged medical treatment when they arrived at Wau late on Tuesday. The spokeswoman said the group's trekking company, PNG Trekking Adventures, arranged medical treatment when they arrived at Wau late on Tuesday.
The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has provided consular support and will meet with the group when they return to Port Moresby.The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has provided consular support and will meet with the group when they return to Port Moresby.
The spokeswoman said travel advice for PNG was for Australians to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high levels of serious crime. That advice has now been updated to provide details of the latest incident. The spokeswoman said Dfat advises Australians in PNG to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high level of serious crime. That advice has now been updated to provide details of the latest incident.
"We recommend that trekkers avoid the Black Cat Track until the local police have investigated this incident," The Dfat spokeswoman said. "We recommend that trekkers avoid the Black Cat track until the local police have investigated this incident," she said.
The Black Cat Track runs between Wau and Salamaua in northern PNG. It was the scene of bitter fighting between Australian and US troops and Japanese forces in 1943. It is regarded as one of the most arduous walks in PNG. Dfat has not changed its travel advice for other PNG treks such as Kokoda.
King says attacks are very rare.
"It hurts the whole trekking industry in the country," he said.
The Black Cat track was the scene of bitter fighting between Australian and US troops and Japanese forces in 1943. It is regarded as one of the most arduous walks in PNG.
Earlier this year, then home affairs minister Jason Clare and Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison walked the track, accompanied by a pair of wounded soldiers.Earlier this year, then home affairs minister Jason Clare and Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison walked the track, accompanied by a pair of wounded soldiers.
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