45 Minutes to Rescue: My Mount Owen Survival Story

Τι συνέβη;

The day had started perfectly, crisp alpine air, a clear New Zealand sky, and the stunning limestone peaks of Mt Owen stretching out in every direction. It was one of those days that remind you why you love the outdoors. 

As I was tramping along a steep section of the trail, it happened in an instant, one misplaced step and I felt my ankle twist violently beneath me. I heard the sickening crack before the pain hit. It was sharp, immediate, and overwhelming. I fell to the ground, clutching my leg as I tried to catch my breath. I knew straight away it was bad. The pain radiated up my leg, and when I tried to move, my ankle gave out completely. A quick glance confirmed what my body already knew, it was badly broken. I was still at least two hours from the car, down steep, rugged terrain that would’ve challenged even the sure-footed on a good day. Walking out was simply impossible.

For a few moments, I sat there in the stillness, the reality sinking in. The wind whispered across the ridgeline, and the vastness of the landscape made me feel suddenly very small and very alone. Then instinct and preparation took over. I reached into my pack and pulled out my PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon. It was the one piece of gear I carried hoping I’d never need to use, but right then, it was my lifeline. I activated my beacon and then simply had to wait for help to arrive.

Forty-five minutes later, the distant thump of rotor blades broke the mountain silence. Relief washed over me as a rescue helicopter appeared, hovering against the brilliant blue sky before descending toward my position. The downdraft from the rotors whipped through the grass and sent dust swirling into the air as a paramedic was lowered down by winch.

The paramedic was a reassuring presence as she assessed my injury and let me know what was going to happen next. She unpacked her medical kit, secured my leg, and prepared the harness that would carry us both to safety. Moments later, I was clipped in beside her. The winch line tightened, and suddenly we were rising, the ground dropping away beneath us, the slope of Mt Owen shrinking into the distance. 

At the helicopter door, I had to edge myself back inside, every movement careful and deliberate. Once seated, I was provided with a pair of headphones to enable me to listen to the pilot’s voice through the comms. Despite the pain and adrenaline, I couldn’t help but think, what a ride!

That day, my PLB made all the difference. What could have been a long, dangerous wait alone in the mountains became a swift, professional rescue.

Λέξεις σοφίας

Always tell people where you’re going and take a PLB with you.

Σας ευχαριστούμε τη σημείωση στην ομάδα σήματος των ωκεανών

I can’t thank you enough for the work that you do in saving lives, helping people to get the help they need in time. It means the world!