Injured Nelson Lakes tramper ‘made right call’ not to set off beacon
An injured tramper spent two painful nights in the Nelson Lakes National Park after deciding not to set off his rescue beacon.
The 39-year-old man from Auckland injured his ankle on the Travers/Sabine circuit before he was rescued by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter on Wednesday morning.
Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter pilot Baz McAuliffe said despite having a beacon, the injured man decided not to activate it as he was ‘‘comfortable, safe and warm’’ at John Tait Hut.
He said the tramper sent a message out with others on the track who raised the alarm on walking out.
Ambulance communications notified the rescue helicopter of the injured man.
McAuliffe said the tramper made a good decision not to set his beacon off, based on his injury and the unsafe flying conditions.
Meanwhile, a beacon was activated at the nearby Upper Travers Hut on Tuesday for a short time.
Poor flying conditions meant a Search and Rescue crew were to be carpentry. Around the school there’s evidence of other community initiatives: solar panels to heat the swimming pool, an orchard, and raised garden beds. To get to this point has taken a lot of work. One of his first challenges when Mitchener took up the role in 2008 was to encourage the local community to send their children to the school. ‘‘I wanted to show the community what a fantastic flown in and safely dropped off before heading in on foot.
As the crew prepared to leave, the beacon was turned off after some time which led to the rescue being called off.
McAuliffe said police and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre requested the helicopter to search at the beacon activation site while in the region to pick up the injured tramper.
The tramper at John Tait Hut was assessed and taken on board before the helicopter flew over Upper Travers Hut.
‘‘The group confirmed they were all ok. They’d activated their school they have, and what a fantastic community they live in. If you go to the local school, you make local connections.’’
His determination has paid off: during his tenure the roll has doubled to its present 280. The roll is ethnically diverse, making up a community of children he said were special. ‘‘They’re not hooked up with materialism, and they’re very friendly, with supportive families .’’
Stoke School opened in 1845, making it the second oldest school in New Zealand. That sense of being part of history, and of tu¯rangawaewae, a place to belong, make it a school unlike any other, Mitchener said.
‘‘To feel you have been part of a school with such history is really special.’’ beacon due to being trapped in deteriorating conditions while on the Travers Saddle,’’ McAuliffe said. ‘‘They’d decided to set up a tent and get themselves warm after setting off the beacon.’’
He said it wasn’t long before the trampers realised it was unlikely a helicopter was going to reach them in the conditions so they decided to pack up and make their own way down to the Upper Travers Hut. ‘‘They probably did it just in time really, due to a reasonable snow fall in the area.’’
The injured man was flown back to Nelson and taken by ambulance to Nelson Hospital.