Review from MXTV

Thank you to MXTV for providing its viewers with a ‘Quick Tip’ on why you need to carry a PLB when riding out bush.

Rescue: Richmond Range NZ

Thank you Alison for letting us share your story and we hope your recovery is going well…

 

My friend and I had completed 2/3 of the Richmond Range in the South Island and were doing the 10th river crossing for the afternoon when I slipped on a boulder and dislocated my shoulder.

We knew that we were 1 km from the next hut so after 10 minutes deliberation it was decided that I could not walk that distance given the pain in my shoulder. Penny set off the PLB at about 5:30pm. We were on the riverside with steep beech forest on either side of the river.

My husband was contacted 3 minutes after the PLB was set off and told he would be contacted within an hour which did happen.

I was extremely cold after lying in the river for several minutes & shock contributing so was wrapped in an emergency blanket and my sleeping bag. About 45 minutes after setting off the PLB we spotted the helicopter and within 10 minutes a Medic dropped down onto the rocks on a cable. He inserted an intravenous tube for a pain killer, then attached Penny in Sling to the cable. She was hoisted up to the helicopter & taken to the nearby hut where there was a landing pad. He requested 20 minutes to attempt to put my shoulder back. He couldn’t get it back in place so when the helicopter returned I was clipped to him & we were both hoisted to the helicopter.

Within 15 minutes we landed at Nelson hospital and attended to almost immediately. My shoulder was put back in place & by 10pm we were in our motel. Can’t fault the PLB and the Search & Rescue Service in NZ.

I have hiked for years and only bought the PLB 3 months ago. I would certainly not hike without one.

Alison

Rescue: Eastern Arthurs, Tasmania

Thank you for sharing your rescue story with us…

 

Rescue from the Eastern Arthurs, South West Tasmania.

In late March 2018 our party of three attempted a crossing of the Eastern Arthurs in south west Tasmania with a plan to ascend via Moss ridge and proceed along the range.

We spent two days tent-bound on Bechervaise plateau below the summit of the imposing Mount Federation.
On the third day the weather improved after lunch, so we quickly packed and proceeded around the base of Mount Federation on the infamous southern traverse. Conditions were cool and misty but we were moving well when one of our party took a tumble from a rocky face and landed heavily face down with neck pain and a badly lacerated thumb.

The possibility of camping on the small ledge where our injured friend lay was considered but dismissed as too dangerous. We redistributed our injured friend’s equipment and managed to proceed for another hour to a safe and sheltered campsite where we considered our options based on weather forecasts and terrain difficulty as outlined in the track notes.

Unless our friend’s pain had eased considerably by morning it was decided we would use our PLB and wait for rescue. At daylight we activated the PLB, set up a tent on the open Thwaites plateau and cooked breakfast.

We had no idea how long a rescue would take but incredibly within two hours we heard the Westpac rescue helicopter from Hobart heading our way. On a perfect autumn day with Mount Federation close by in bright sunshine our friend was whisked away to the Royal Hobart Hospital for assessment.

We had entered all out trip details into the AMSA data base and when our PLB was activated AMSA was able to quickly confirm the veracity of our distress call. Our friend had a broken neck and thumb but is recovering slowly.

Our gratitude for the service that AMSA and the Tasmanian Government provided cannot be overstated.
Our PLB was reliable and easy to use and of such a small size that carrying it was no burden.

Thank you.