When it comes to survival, AMSA Medical Advisor Dr Paul Luckin has seen it all. 

His long career as medical doctor in search and rescue, and his in-depth understanding of the human psyche has made him a leading expert in calculating the timeframe for survival  for people in life-threatening situations.

He began his life in emergency medicine helping cut people out of cars in Tasmania, and after his medical degree went to South Africa where he finished his medical training and worked in search and rescue in remote and mountainous locations.

As a Commander in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, Paul has served in Afghanistan, Bougainville and East Timor.

He was in the Resuscitation and Retrieval Team for the victims of the Bali bombs, and was in the first medical team into Banda Aceh following the tsunami.

Most recently, he assisted police in locating the missing hiker in the Koszuisko National Park. 

Luke Grant chats with Dr Paul Luckin to find out what’s involved in finding people when the odds are stacked against them and the toll this takes on those searching.