How a Hiker’s Preparedness on Mt. Thomas and Hiking Safety Gear Turned a Crisis Around

1 lives saved

Challenging Terrain

Hunting

Medical emergency

Mountain

What happened?

It had been raining heavily, making the steep descent from the summit of Mt. Thomas treacherous. Pine needles gathered in thick bunches, hiding tree roots along the trail.

I was halfway back to the car park when I tripped and fell, hearing a loud crack as my ankle twisted beneath me. For a moment, I hoped the noise had come from my walking pole breaking, but one look at the angle of my foot confirmed my suspicion: it was my leg that had broken.

The pain hadn’t fully set in yet, but I felt an immediate sense of frustration. My plans for a summer of tramping had just vanished, and I knew I’d be letting my team down during the busiest time of year at work.

I took a few moments to consider my options.

It was cold and damp, and I was sitting on wet ground alone. I likely had cell reception, but I knew that summoning the local Land SAR (Search and Rescue) team and coordinating a stretcher evacuation down the mountain to Christchurch Hospital would take several hours. Despite the situation, I wasn’t feeling scared but I had my hiking safety gear with me — I had my rescueMe PLB1 Personal Locator Beacon in my pack, giving me confidence that help wasn’t too far away.

Realizing that my options were limited, I activated the beacon. Within minutes, emergency personnel called to confirm my location, and a helicopter was dispatched. Thanks to the PLB, I was in the hospital within an hour, where I learned I had fractured both my tibia and fibula and severely sprained my ankle.

If I hadn’t brought hiking survival gear with me by carrying a PLB, I would have faced a long, cold wait and a difficult extraction. Although I felt a bit embarrassed by my clumsiness, my gratitude for the quick response was overwhelming.

I’ll never tramp without an emergency beacon again, especially when I’m out alone.

Words of wisdom

Always take a PLB or similar when going on adventures, especially if on your own!

Thank you note to the Ocean Signal team

Legends.  My RescueMe PLB worked perfectly when I needed it.  Such a great investment!