PLB1 Saves Hunter After Heart Attack in Remote Terrain

What happened?

I was out goat hunting with my friend Alan and two lady hunters on a farm block being converted to pine forest. The property had three steep ridges with a mix of pasture, native bush and established pines.

The ladies hunted one gully while Alan and I worked the next. After about 45 minutes we had taken a few goats and dragged them down to an access track to field dress them. About ten minutes later Alan said he did not feel well. He was unsteady on his feet, his hands were numb and he began having mild chest pains.

I got him to sit down and made him comfortable. He mentioned he was on blood pressure medication and had previously told his doctor about intermittent chest pains that usually passed after a few minutes. Alan walked about twenty meters to a flatter spot but said he did not think we needed to activate the beacon. I headed down the track to get the vehicle and alerted the others on the two way radio and activated my PLB1, about 5 minutes after leaving Alan.

At the truck I received a call from the rescue coordination center and was able to describe Alan’s condition and point out a helicopter landing site about 100 meters from him. When we returned Alan was colder and losing feeling in his arms and feet. Light rain had started so we carefully helped him into the truck and drove slowly to the landing site.

About thirty minutes later the helicopter arrived. The crew confirmed Alan was having a heart attack and flew him to Waikato Hospital. Alan underwent surgery to install a stent and spent a week in hospital. He later recovered at home and gradually returned to work. Thanks to the Ocean Signal PLB1, rescuers were able to reach us quickly. Without it Alan would likely not have survived.

Words of wisdom

Activate your PLB ASAP. Then try for cell coverage to inform rescuers of detail.

Thank you note to the Ocean Signal team

Thank you to the Ocean Signal team, your work has saved my mate, a husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.