Solo Hiker's ACR PLB Activation Save Injured Cyclist

Home

/

Survivor Stories

/

Solo Hiker's ACR PLB Activation Save Injured Cyclist

Solo Hiker's ACR PLB Activation Save Injured Cyclist
Lives saved

1

Hiking

Hiking

Off-road

Off-road

Mountain

Mountain

Medical emergency

Medical emergency

Normal conditions

Normal conditions

Hiking

Solo Hiker's ACR PLB Activation Save Injured Cyclist

-38.6295481°S, 175.4994192°E

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Kerry

What happened?

This rescue occurred whilst on the Timber Trail section of Te Araroa, which I am solo section hiking this year.

Whilst having a lunch break, I could hear cyclists coming through an obviously challenging section just across the valley. A couple of minutes after hearing them through this section, they would bike past me.

After listening to this for a while, I heard a group come around the same section, but this time there was a really knarly skid, followed by a low pitched thud, a shriek and then silence.

No one came biking past. 

I quickly armed myself with my ACR PLB, my first aid kit, and my 2 way satellite communication device, and headed up the track. There I found a group of cyclists, one of whom had come off his bike.

He was in a great deal of pain and extremely confused. The group decided that we should set off my PLB as he was certainly not going to get out of there without help. 

The Westpac Helicopter arrived in about an hour and Kerry was evacuated to Waikato Hospital where he could undergo the necessary neurological testing. The paramedics on site were amazing and confirmed that we definitely did the right thing by activating the PLB. 

Kate Hiking Solo

Words of wisdom

Make sure you (and your tour company) have a sound safety plan and always be prepared to help out a stranger.

Thank you note

Thanks so much for providing a kit that gives us all some peace of mind. You rock!!

Rescue location

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