Trapped in the Remote Kaimanawa Ranges: How an Emergency Beacon Brought Help

1 lives saved

Challenging Terrain

Hiking

Medical emergency

Mountain

What happened?

Embarking on a three day hunting expedition with friends in the rugged terrain of the Kaimanawa Forest, I was six hours into the journey when the unexpected happened. We had missed a turn, leading us down the wrong ridge. As I followed the edge of a steep gully along what seemed to be an old animal track, burdened by a 30 kilogram pack, the ground beneath me suddenly gave way.

The fall disoriented me. I saw my left ankle twist unnaturally as I plummeted. What followed remains hazy, but I remember lying on the ground, struggling to move. The initial pain was intense, yet as I hobbled toward the campsite, adrenaline dulled it.

By the time I reached camp, pain pulsed through my ankle, knee, hips, and lower back. Walking became nearly impossible. With only Panadol for relief, the pain continued. Sleep came only through sheer exhaustion after a night of relentless discomfort.

The following morning, any attempt to stand triggered excruciating pain. Self-evacuating from such a remote and rugged area was not an option. Realizing the severity of the situation, we activated our rescueME PLB1.

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter responded quickly, but the dense forest had no suitable landing area. The crew, well-prepared for such challenges, deployed a specialized rescue winch. A critical care flight paramedic descended to my location, assessed my injuries, and stabilized me. Moments later, we were hoisted through the canopy into the hovering helicopter and flown to Taupō Hospital for further treatment.

Looking back on this harrowing experience, I feel immense gratitude for the expertise and equipment that made my rescue possible. The winch played a crucial role in reaching me in such inaccessible terrain. I have since learned that the region will receive a new H145 rescue helicopter equipped with advanced technology. However, it currently lacks a rescue winch—a vital tool for operations like mine. Efforts are underway to raise funds to ensure the new helicopter has this necessary kit, allowing future rescues to happen swiftly and safely.

“On Bruce’s agreement, this story is based on a report from the NZ Herald, which provided detailed information about Bruce’s rescue from the Kaimanawa Forest.” Published on 05/11/2024.

Source: NZ Herald

Words of wisdom

You never know when something will go wrong when out in the environment.
Better to be safe, than sorry.

Thank you note to the Ocean Signal team

The RescueME PLB 1 is great as it is small and I carry mine in a bino holder, so it is easy to access. The RescueME PLB1 is very easy to activate.