Bushwalker's 000 operator admits lack of compassion
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David Iredale's body was found in bushland in the Blue Mountains in December 2006. (AAP: Mick Tsikas)
Three 000 operators have apologised for the way they handled calls for help from a teenage bushwalker who later died after becoming lost in the Blue Mountains.
All three have appeared at the inquest into the death of David Iredale, who had been walking with two other boys on a school expedition in December 2006.
One of the operators broke down, while another admitted she had been abrupt and lacked compassion.
Laura Meade, one of the last people to speak to David Iredale alive, took two calls from the teenager seven minutes apart.
He wanted an ambulance but when he did not give a street address, Ms Meade asked: "You just walked into the middle of nowhere did you?"
She denied her tone was sarcastic but said she "most certainly could have done a better job in managing these calls".
Rene Waters answered another call from the teenager, and in a five-minute conversation she asked four times where he was heading.
She broke down as she told the inquest she was sorry for any part she played in the situation.
Stacy Dickens, an operator with 30 years' experience, took David Iredale's sixth and final call.
But she put him on hold for almost a minute, and on one occasion even reprimanded him
Today she agreed her mind had not been on the job and that she had been "abrupt [with a] lack of compassion".
Despite the failure to help the desperate teenager she was only disciplined by her superiors last week.
All three operators admitted they were focused on getting a street address from the teenager when he was lost and distressed.
The 17-year-old's body was found a kilometre from the nearest water source, more than a week after his final call to the operators.
Earlier, David Iredale's teacher agreed there should have been more supervision of the unaccompanied bushwalk.
Jim Forbes was in charge of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme at Sydney Grammar in 2006.
Yesterday, Mr Forbes denied any prior knowledge of the walk.
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