The last image is haunting. It was taken by the vanlife foursome who were stranded outback during heavy rains.

  • An Australian family of young people is lost in South Australia’s Simpson Desert.
  • An airplane was able to deliver essential supplies to the stranded family-of-four
  • When weather conditions improve, rescue efforts will start
  • They got bogged down in their truck Wednesday, but they are still in great spirits 










The final photo of a family of four stranded in outback, before they got engulfed by the bush is an excellent reminder about how fast things can change from very good to extremely bad.

The Zavros family arrived in Birdsville, Queensland on Thursday. They are traveling Australia with two children and a van. Let’s go to the Simpson Desert!

The Simpson Desert is where Orios and Lindsey, along with their two children Zoe (and Zane) have been stuck for six days.

A young Perth family has been stranded in the Simpson Desert in South Australia for six days - with this their eerie last Instagram post before disaster struck

Six days ago, a young family from Perth was left stranded at the Simpson Desert in South Australia. This is their last Instagram post before tragedy struck.

Posts on the family's Instagram account shows little Zane and Zoe enjoying a swim in Fraser Island, a paddle-board in the Whitsundays and moments of everyday life in the van

The family posted photos on Instagram showing little Zane, Zoe enjoying a swim at Fraser Island and a paddleboard ride in the Whitsundays.

On Friday, after their campervan was stuck around 150 km north-west Oodnadatta by the Zavros Family, they set off an emergency beacon.

After the beacon was activated, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority sent a plane to Perth’s Essendon Airport in order to transport essential supplies. 

The delivery included food, water and DVDs as well as sweets, nappies, and a letter from Mr Zavros. 

Mother Theo and father Lagis Zavros chatted with their son, and other family members on Sunday using a’very crackly satellite phone. 

The family was coping very well, which they were relieved by. 

Orios, Zane, Lindsey and Zoe Zavros (pictured) have been travelling around Australia in a campervan

Orios (pictured), Zane, Lindsey, and Zoe Zavros were travelling across Australia in a campervan.

‘If you could pick the worst place in Australia to break down it would be there,’ Lagis Zavros told The West Australian. 

Mrs Zavros stated that the four hour wait for confirmation from her family had been “hectic” and “horrible”. 

AMSA Police and SA Police have coordinated a rescue operation that will start when the weather improves in coming days.

Although flying their family to get them out of their stranding place was an option, it is preferable that they dig out their campervan from the mud and make their way. However, conditions are still not good enough.

The Zavros family could be stranded for another two weeks after their van became bogged (pictured), but supplies have been dropped to them

After their van got bogged, the Zavros family may be left stranded another two weeks (pictured). But supplies were dropped to them

According to Mrs Zavros, Zoe was three years old and Zane was two years old. However, the older child seems more open-minded and can understand some things.

On the phone, Zane said to his grandmother: “Yaya! I love you!” Yaya, Greek for grandmother.    

As they were hoping for someone to pass their beacon, Mr Zavros stated that the family set it off two days later. 

They realized they had to notify authorities. 

Poor weather conditions have impeded land recovery efforts. According to police statements, the family might be stuck for many weeks. 

'Vanlife' couple Orios and Lindsey Zavros and their children Zoe and Zane (pictured) are currently stranded in the Simpson Desert in outback South Australia

Orios and Lindsey Zavros, a couple known as ‘Vanlife’ are currently stuck in South Australia’s Simpson Desert with their two children Zane and Zoe.

On Wednesday, the cold front that brought heavy rains to South Australia was responsible for gale force winds and an almost record amount of rainfall.

Wild weather in Adelaide caused power outages and Alberga River, in the far north of the state to stop flowing for the first 18-months.

Since November 2020 the family has been driving across Australia with their modified vehicle. They have traveled from WA’s west coast to Darwin in South Australia and Queensland, respectively.

Trucking Oz was their Instagram account, where they documented their adventures outback in their truck and camper.

With more than 4,000 subscribers, the account also has a YouTube channel that gives followers an inside view of van life.

Mr Zavros built the modified Mitsubishi Canter (pictured) the family calls home from scratch

The modified Mitsubishi Canter, built by Mr Zavros (pictured), is the home that the Zavros family has made.

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