Man Recovered from Mt Ngauruhoe

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Mt Ngauruhoe yesterday afternoon.

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter waiting below the cloud level in South Crater of Mt Tongariro

A french man in his early twenties fell and sustained a suspected ankle fracture and a laceration to his head. The man was travelling in a group with three others who raised the alarm.

Due to passing cloud obscuring much of Mt Ngauruhoe above the level of the south crater of Mt tongariro, Ruapehu Alpine rescue team members were used for the initial locate and recovery phase on the operation.

The passing cloud momentarily cleared and allowed the RARO team to be hover loaded out of the helicopter onto steep northern slopes of Ngauruhoe. Unfortunately the patient located on the western side of the mountain was still envaloped in thick cloud.

Despite the poor visibility the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue team quickly traversed their way around the mountain and found the injured man. After a brief assessment of his injuries a momentary clearance in the cloud allowed the helicopter, which was waiting engine running in the south crater of Mt Tongariro, to ascend to the injured man, who was very efficiently transferred into the hovering helicopter for his extraction.

Moments after his recovery the cloud returned and the Alpine rescue team were require to walk back down Mt Ngauruhoe as the helicopter was unable to return to collect them.

The injured manias flown to Rotorua Hospital with a suspected ankle fracture and a laceration to his head.

Philips Search and Rescue Trust (PSRT) is a charitable organisation, operating rescue helicopters throughout the Central North Island. Philips Search and Rescue Trust relies on support from principal sponsors and community donations. Special thanks to Taupo’s principal sponsor, Greenlea. This crucial financial support ensures our rescue helicopters can continue to bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and trauma-trained medics directly to the patient. For further information about PSRT visit our website rescue.org.nz

[ENDS]

© Scoop Media