I started the Gertrude Saddle, a popular day-hike in New Zealand Fjordland, at 6 pm with perfect conditions. There were no indications that a PLB activation would be needed later that day.

At first, I didn’t want to bring my backpack, but I changed my mind last minute. Turns out, this decision was a life-saver because my ResQLink 400 PLB was in there.

When I descended at around 7 pm, I saw someone lying in the grass 10 meters next to the trail. I was confused and approached him. Then I noticed his serious head injuries, assuming he slipped somewhere and fell badly.

I didn’t carry an emergency blanket, so I took off my clothes and wrapped him in them. Then I set off my PLB.

To confirm a rescue team is coming, I tried several times to call the emergency number. Unfortunately, due to bad reception, it was interrupted all the time.

As time passed, weather conditions suddenly worsened.

By 8 pm, we were almost covered in fog. Luckily, 5 other hikers came along and assisted. By then, we had no signal of any rescue team arriving soon. Our confidence dropped by every minute, looking at the clouds rolling and night creeping in.

It was about 15 minutes past eight when we heard a helicopter approaching. It was right above us but couldn’t see us.

In the last minute before the fog completely closed, we managed to navigate the helicopter through the valley by calling with the emergency who were connected to the helicopter team.

Unfortunately, the conditions did not allow the helicopter to land, so two doctors jumped out to assist the patient. While they were operating, we were waiting because we potentially had to help carry the patient off the mountain with a stretcher.

At 9, the doctors told us that this would be too dangerous and set us to descend together. They said the patient would be stable and that they are hoping for a better weather window for the chopper at night to fly up.

It was a pretty tough descent in the dark. It was steep and very slippery because of the fog. I was so relieved when we arrived at 10:30 pm in the valley where police and more rescue workers waited for us.

It was, for sure, a night I won’t forget.