Tramper Winched From Tararua Ranges

The Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter located and rescued an injured tramper from the Tararua Ranges late last night.

Just before 9:30pm the NZ Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) notifed Life Flight that an emergency signal from a "SPOT Messenger Beacon" had been picked up along the Otaki River about 15 kilometres north of Otaki Forks. The SPOT beacon is monitored by a private company in the USA and transmits a signal to a different sattelite than the more common 406 beacons which are normally used by Kiwis.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded with a Wellington Free Ambulance winch paramedic onboard.

"Thanks to our night vision goggles we were able to see the beam of a torch waving to us from under trees near the river bed" says Life Flight crewman Dave Greenberg. "Once we located the man our paramedic was winched aproximately 150 feet down to the river bed and the man was rescued".

The 36 year old Palmerston North man injured his knee earlier last night and set off his beacon when he realised he would not be able to walk out. RCCNZ contacted the mans wife who confirmed that her husband was tramping in the area.

"Unlike many of the trampers we rescue, this man was well equipped and prepared" says Westpac Rescue Helicopter pilot Harry Stevenson. "Once he set off his beacon he stayed in place and waved his torch which helped us find him quickly".

The mans injuries did not require hospitalisation so he was transported to a park in Levin where the helicopter was met by Levin Police who were able to drive the man home.

The Life Flight Trust is a charity providing air rescue and air ambulance services. It operates the Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a national air ambulance service. It relies on support from the public and sponsorship from partners such as Westpac to provide these services. Further information can be obtained from www.lifeflight.org.nz

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