Catchpool Reserve

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Catchpool Reserve

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1

Hiking

Hiking

Medical emergency

Medical emergency

Thunder storm

Thunder storm

Hiking

Catchpool Reserve

-41.351847°S, 174.923007°E

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Fred

What happened?

It was a wonderful Sunday morning. There was a good frost, so the day was going to be awesome. I decided to go and retrieve several of my game cameras I had in the bush, one of which had stopped working. So I drove to Catchpool reserve and wandered in, about a 4 hour walk from the carpark to get to my cameras. It was a slow steady tramp in, and it was brisk up where I was at the 700 meter line. I had retrieved 2 of the cameras and was on my way back to get the third camera when I stumbled and fell. It hurt like heck the minute I hit the deck. It took me a while to get to my feet. I knew I had hurt myself, but just brushed myself off (as you do) and carried on. I only got about 50 yards when I started getting dizzy spells, and my back was starting to really hurt. I knew I was in trouble. I managed to walk a little further to get out of the high canopy above me, and I had to stop. I dumped my pack and sat down before the dizzy spells made me fall down. I set off my PLB, and as I was so high up I had cellphone coverage, so I called the police as well. After answering many questions with them evaluating my situation they informed me that they were going to send a helicopter to get me. As I was so high up I could look cross the Wellington harbour, so I watched the helicopter coming straight for me. They winched a paramedic down to assess me. I could hardly stand by the time they got to me. I was assessed as status 1, and they then winched me to the helicopter. They flew me to Wellington Hospital where I was assessed further. I was assessed as having no serious injuries, apart from my back being sore. They gave me lots of pain killers and discharged me later that night. I was off work for quite some time, and am now starting to feel less back pain.

Words of wisdom

Always carry your PLB.

Thank you note

Thank you ACR!

Rescue location

Catchpool Reserve

Rescue team

Local Search and Rescue

ResQLink™

Go to product details

It may be small, but it's tough. The ResQLink™ PLB Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a GPS-enabled rescue beacon that's suited for outdoor adventures of all sizes (think: everything from hiking and cycling to hunting and fishing). Should you run into an unexpected situation, the ResQLink PLB will relay your location to a network of search and rescue satellites. PLBs have helped save thousands of people's lives. This Product has been Upgraded. Click Here for Available Upgrade WARNING: PROP 65    

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