I’m one of a group of 4 Rotarian’s in over 70 years who have completed 45 tramps/hikes in the southern half of New Zealand since 2003. This tramp, in late May 2023, was on the recently opened Paparoa Track on New Zealand’s West Coast between Greymouth & Punakaiki. This is a four day hike in terrain ranging from rainforest to exposed ridgetops at 1,000m.

The west coast is open to the Tasman sea so it often gets wild weather. We had rain, winds, & low clouds early morning on the 31^st of May. I went out of the hut in these wet & windy conditions and fell on the stairs, breaking 2 ribs, damaging my shoulder blade and rotator cuff.

Being in severe pain, and being a 2-day walk away from the end of the track, I set off my ResQLink 400 PLB.

The West Coast Rescue Helicopter with a paramedic and 2 Search & Rescue personnel on board were sent to get me. However, because of the clouds, they had to be dropped 3 hours from the hut. The paramedic was able to assess my condition and provide pain relief. Due to the worsening conditions, the Helicopter was unable to evacuate me, so I was taken down an escape route & picked up by Police to be taken to the hospital.

This is the first time we have had to set off the beacon so we are truly thankful for its effectiveness in getting assistance to me in a very rugged environment.

I have included a photo of us on the track & of a nurse who was in the hut putting me in a sling. Also attached a photo of me on the Milford Track in 2022