Police are calling on hunters carry a locator beacon and take enough equipment for an emergency after a lucky escape in Southland and a rescue in Marlborough last week.
Eastern Southland search and rescue volunteers, from left, Lindsay Eunson, Colin Forbes and David McFazien. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
A Southland hunter spent hours lost in the cold in the Hokonui Hills last week.
Emergency services were alerted to his plight after his wife raised the alarm about 6.30pm on 21 April.
"Police were able to determine the man's location by getting him to make a 111 call from his mobile phone," Invercargill police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Ian Martin said.
LandSAR and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications volunteers helped find the hunter about four hours later, near Dolamore Park, outside Gore.
"He was feeling the cold, but otherwise in good health," Martin said.
"He was fortunate, as he had very little food and insufficient gear to spend the night in the bush.
"Police would encourage hunters to always be prepared and take sufficient clothing and equipment for an unplanned overnight stay."
Martin also advised people to take a personal locator beacon with them on all hunting and tramping trips.
A 76-year-old fell down very steep terrain about 150m from the road in Waikawa, Picton. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
In Marlborough on the same day, a hunter was winched to safety with a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder following a five-hour rescue.
Police launched a search and rescue operation after reports of a 76-year-old falling down very steep and challenging terrain, about 150m from the road in Waikawa, Picton.
The man's cries for help were heard by residents in Amelia Crescent and another member of his hunting party, who was some distance away, to Marlborough area prevention manager Peter Payne said.
LandSAR helped St John staff get to the hunter on the steep terrain, then carried him up to a clearing to a resuce helicopter, which flew him to Wairau Hospital.
"On the morning of the rescue, the hunter said he was in a hurry and put on his sneakers instead of his hunting boots, which could have been one of the reasons he slipped," Payne said.
"He had recently bought a locator beacon, but unfortunately a mate was using it at the time."
Payne also advised a distress beacon to signal for help.
"The sooner rescuers can help you, the more likely you are to survive."
