SEARCH AND RESCUE

For experienced West Coast hunter, Hamish*, doing all the right things couldn’t prevent a life-threatening situation following a nasty fall in the Karangarua Valley

I’ve lived in the South Island all my life and have been hunting since I was a child. I grew up reading about Phillip Holden’s exploits and love getting out there - even if I don’t see anything. I hunt somewhere new most roar periods and have spent time hunting tahr and chamois in South Westland. I had some leave coming up and was looking forward to getting away from work. T he weather forecast looked good so I packed up the truck, ensured I had a permit and told my partner where I was going and when I would be back - I always text her when I get out. I hit the road, stopping off at Fox Glacier for a last-minute coffee on the way, and parked my truck at the bridge at the Karangarua River. The weather was great so, full of enthusiasm, off I went. Walking upstream from the bridge I soon started and was blowing hard even though I’d done some training - but obviously not enough. My position wasn’t the best, so I left my pack there and moved around a knob so I could get into an assessing/shootable position. I was feeling quite chuffed with myself - my first day and I was onto a good animal! That’s when things started to go wrong. My foot slipped on a bit of scree and I fell hard with intense pain shooting through my leg. I sat there for a while taking stock and cursing. I had a couple of hours of light left so I decided to try and make it back to the hut. But with only two steps I was a crumpled heap and my pack was still out of reach. I wouldn’t be going anywhere. In all my time hunting, I was now in trouble - and I knew it. My situation had me worried like you wouldn’t believe. Fortunately, I had a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) attached to my belt and not buried in my now ‘out of reach’ pack. I set off the PLB wondering if it would work and how long it would take for someone to come get me. I was pressing the button continuously thinking that if this thing doesn’t work, “I’m stuffed”. I’d heard somewhere if you set off your PLB it’s best to stay in the same spot if possible. That was easy - I didn’t have the option of moving. It was a very off feeling to have my life relying on a $330 PLB that I had never used before. My partner had bought it for me – I’m now super glad that I had it. I lay there with my leg elevated for what seemed an eternity, wondering if the PLB had worked. I pressed the button a few more times.