Beacon proves lifesaver
Inexpensive hire invaluable after tramper broke her ankle in Kaweka Ranges
Abroken ankle two days walk from the nearest road could have spelt disaster for an Auckland couple tramping in theKawekaRanges. But luckily Kerry andRaewyn Rodger had had the foresight to hire a personal locator beacon in Taupo¯ en route to their destination.
The pair, in their 50s, were tramping in the easternKaweka Ranges on Friday, September 4 ona six-day loop tramp from hut to hut in the area. They had organised to hire a personal locator beacon from Taupo¯ Freemasons, which has a stock of PLBs it hires via awebsite, using Hunting& Fishing Taupo¯ as adropoff and pick-up point.
The Rodgers were well-prepared, despite cold weather which brought snowand wind on the third day.
“The trackwas covered insnow and parts of it had six to eight inches (15-20cm), so it wasupto the boots,” Kerry says. “But itwas lovely. The day before it had been really exposed in really gale force winds, but that particular daywas a beautiful fine day and there was hardly any wind.”
But disaster struck just before midday, with the couple less than an houraway from Mangaturuturu Hut, their destination for the night.
“Wejust went upa little rise andcamedownthe other side of it . . . and [Raewyn] just fell forward and wentdownin a screaming heap. AndI think basically her ankle folded under the full weight of her body on top of it, and broke it in three places.”
Raewynwas unable to moveand in a lot of pain. Therewas nowayof getting her to the nearest hut and the two days walk outwas not an option. Therewas only one thing for it. Kerry activated the PLB.
PLBs work by sending a signal which is picked upby satellites and relayed on, eventually reaching the NewZealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre. At Kerry’s end, he could only trust that the PLBwasworking as he set about makingRaewyn comfortable. Hegot her in awarm jacket and sleeping bag and laid out a yellow pack liner in a clear area as a signal to passing helicopters.
“Iknewfrom other rescues a lot of times they say if they can’t get a
rescue team in because of conditions you’ve got to be prepared to hunker downfor the night andmyimmediate thoughtwaswewould need to prepare to stay the night possibly,” Kerry says. “And also at that point it was the cold [thatwas a concern] because once you go into shock, you get cold quickly.”
They hadwarmclothes, cookers and a tent. But Kerry had hardly got the tent pitched before they heard the welcome sound of rotor blades.
Itwas the Hastings-basedLowe Corporation rescue helicopter, tasked by the NZRCC, and it arrived, Kerry estimates, within just half an hour.
Aparamedic waswincheddown to examineRaewynand shewas winched out and whisked to Hawke’s Bay Hospital. Kerry walked out the next day and the couple were reunited.
Kerry praised the skill of the rescue helicopter staff and says he’s grateful for his decision to hire a PLB to take on the trip. Herecommendstaking a PLB to everyone, even if they’re just going for aday adventure.
“Preparation is key. I’ve gone in there before without them and the oddtime, I’ve hired one but after this experience I’d never go without them.”