Deception River, West Coast, New Zealand

Home

/

Survivor Stories

/

Deception River, West Coast, New Zealand

Deception River, West Coast, New Zealand
Lives saved

3

Hiking

Hiking

River

River

Weather

Weather

Hiking

Deception River, West Coast, New Zealand

-42.8060434°S, 171.5998888°E

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Mike

What happened?

I lent my beacon to 3 friends. I was meant to go on the tramp but had injured myself 1 week prior.They were to do the Pfeifer Biv tramp , but weather conditions were average, so they decided to head for Mid Deception Hut (up the Deception River….the route of which was well known to one of the party.) It was raining and the river started to rise.This made them take detours to avoid impassable parts of the river.This used up valuable time and daylight.Then one of the party fell into the river and became very cold and lethargic (hypothermic ?). The leader decided to stop and put the cold person into dry clothing and their sleeping bag.He then activated the PLB at around 7pm. The rescuers at first tried to fly in by helicopter , but the weather turned them back. A ground crew of 6 then went to the area and commenced tramping up the river at around 10pm. Reaching the survivors at 3am. They stayed with them overnight and then helicoptered them out the next morning. Another excellent rescue by our SAR teams and the NZ Police (who co ordinated the rescue).

Words of wisdom

Make timely decisions as dispassionately as possible; don’t ignore the elephant(s) in the room.

Thank you note

Thanks for the great product. It definitely helped save people, and helped protect the rescuers.

Rescue location

Deception River, West Coast, New Zealand

Rescue team

Local Search and Rescue

ResQLink™ 400

Go to product details

$379.95$429.95

Small but resilient, the ResQLink 400 has been professionally engineered and tested to ensure it can withstand even the harshest elements. This buoyant Personal Locator Beacon requires no subscription for use and can be utilized to enhance your safety in a wide variety of environments. Whether on land, at sea, or in the air, trust that the ResQLink’s satellite precision and military durability, put rescue in the palm of your hands.

 

Features and Benefits:

  • No Subscription Required
  • GPS and Galileo GNSS
  • Built-In Buoyancy
  • Strobe and Infrared Strobe
  • Global Coverage
  • MEOSAR Compatible
  • Small and lightweight
  • 5-year battery life
  • 24+ hours Operational Life**
  • Multi-function Clip System Included
**Based on test report from an accredited laboratory   WARNING: PROP 65   
Clear
Find a dealer

ResQLink™ 400 saves lives

Survivor Stories

Adventure Gone Wrong: Quick Thinking and Heroic Efforts Save Injured Biker in Outback Australia

Without wasting time, we activated our ResQLink 400 PLB and a Spot Tracker to call for help. As we tended to Shane, trying to make him as comfortable as possible, it became apparent that his condition was worsening. His breathing was labored, and the pain was intensifying. In the isolation of the outback, where time feels slower and every minute counts, we were desperate for help to arrive.

Read Full Story

Lost at Sea: How a Locator Beacon Reunited a Family After a Kayak Mishap

Panic set in as I paddled frantically to find him. I searched in widening circles but couldn't spot him behind the big waves. Horrible thoughts raced through my mind—why did we go out in these conditions? The weather had turned bad. Had a shark attacked him, or had he hit his head and drowned?

Read Full Story