My husband and I were spending Christmas the way we always do, out in the New Zealand mountains on a multi-day hike together. Day one was straightforward, with an enjoyable climb up to the Mount Fyffe Hut, and we settled in feeling confident and prepared for what lay ahead.

Day two was a very different story. The route became far more challenging, beginning with an exposed ridgeline walk, followed by a long 1,300-metre descent. About half of that descent was loose scree, with the remainder requiring careful boulder-hopping down a rugged riverbed.

Partway down the scree slope, I briefly lost my footing and rolled my ankle. At first, I dismissed it as a minor sprain and continued on, determined not to let it slow us down. As we descended further, the pain intensified, and each step became harder than the last.

The terrain deteriorated quickly. There was no formed track, just a maze of rocks, shrubs, and an uneven riverbed that demanded constant balance and precision. Navigating this environment with my injured ankle became increasingly difficult. My husband could see the pain I was in and grew understandably concerned. He suggested activating our ACR ResQLink 400 PLB, but I kept pushing on longer than I should have, hoping I could still finish the hike.

Eventually, just before we dropped below the bush line, my husband made the call and activated the beacon. Within about 45 minutes, a rescue helicopter arrived. The response was swift and professional. Both of us were winched out without delay. My husband was dropped off safely at the car, and I was taken directly to the hospital.

Thankfully, nothing was broken, though I am now on crutches. Continuing the hike, which still had another day and a half to go, would have been agonizing and irresponsible.

We are incredibly grateful that we had an ACR PLB with us and that we were able to make the right decision when it mattered most. Having that beacon turned a potentially serious situation into a safe and controlled rescue, and we would not head into remote terrain without one.