I started a solo four-day hike on the 1st of February. A friend dropped me off at 5:00 PM on a Friday to begin my three-day adventure. By Saturday, I was heading towards the Dunton saddle. As I neared the saddle, there was a near-vertical section where I had to climb using rocks sticking out of the surface. Unfortunately, just as I took the last step, the rocks gave up, and I fell about 40 feet.

I managed to stop the fall and quickly assessed my injuries. Blood was weeping from my left hip and elbow, but I didn’t let it stop me. I turned around, tried again, and managed to scramble my way up to safer ground, eventually reaching more friendly terrain. I continued, following the ridge up the mountain to cross a deep gorge. However, after about an hour, a sharp pain began intensifying under my left lower ribs. The pain became unbearable, and I began to fear that I may have internal injuries.

At that point, I had no choice but to admit I couldn’t continue. I reluctantly activated my ACR ResQLink beacon. 35 minutes later, a rescue helicopter landed beside me. The helicopter crew, whom I knew well from my 13 years as a paramedic, gave me a quick check-up, administered pain relief, and carefully loaded me into the helicopter. They flew me to Invercargill Hospital, where doctors conducted ultrasounds and scans. Fortunately, there were no internal injuries or broken bones—just torn cartilage around my lower ribs. They cleaned and dressed the gravel rash on my hip and elbow. After they provided care, they sent me home with my daughter, who had been waiting at the hospital for me.

I took two weeks off work to recover. Though the ribs still give me trouble, they are slowly improving. I’ve spent all my 65 years wandering the mountains, and this was the first time I had ever needed help. Despite being only, a couple of hours from my destination, I was extremely reluctant to use the beacon. But in the end, it was the right decision. The irony wasn’t lost on me that, after years of being the paramedic on a rescue helicopter and knowing the crew well, I would be the one needing help.