On the 11th of June 2023, I found myself on a hunting trip in the Mungapurua Valley. The clock read 5:30 PM, and that’s when disaster struck.

My quad bike veered off the track and tumbled about 6 meters down the slope. The impact left me with a fractured rib, and my arms and legs were battered and bruised.

At first, I didn’t fully grasp the extent of my injuries. I tried to walk out, clinging to the hope that someone would come by and offer me a lift.

For nearly two hours, I trudged along the rugged terrain, determined to make my way back to safety.

But as I pressed on, my body’s protests grew louder, and the pain intensified.

Eventually, I couldn’t continue any longer. I collapsed on the track, and that’s when the gravity of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew I was in trouble, stranded in the wilderness with my injuries.

It was at that moment of desperation that I reached for my ACR ResQLink 400 PLB (Personal Locator Beacon).

With a sense of urgency and a realization that I couldn’t rely on chance alone, I activated it and awaited rescue.

The hours that followed were a mixture of anxiety and hope, as I clung to the knowledge that help was on the way. That experience taught me a valuable lesson. I’ll never venture into the wilderness without a PLB again. It was a lifeline that ensured my safety, and I will forever be grateful for its role in my rescue.