Hunters and dog rescued after fall
New Zealand’s Life Flight Trust rescued two hunters and a dog from a remote area inland from Ward in Marlborough.
At approximately 09:30 hr on 27 November, New Zealand’s Life Flight Trust rescued two hunters and a dog from a remote area inland from Ward in Marlborough. Life Flight responded in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic onboard.
One of the hunters was suffering from a shoulder injury after suffering a fall on the previous evening. The man had an apparent shoulder dislocation and the pain from the injury prevented the hunters from walking out of the area. The hunters were able to reach a small hut near Isolation Hill, but a rescue was not possible due to poor weather.
Life Flight was contacted just before 07:00 hrs, but could not respond immediately due to low cloud. The hunters called at around 08:45 hrs to say the weather had cleared and the helicopter took off.
Once overhead at the scene, the paramedic was winched down to the patient. A small clearing was then located a short distance from the hunters, and the paramedic, two hunters and the dog made their way there. The helicopter crew dropped one hunter, the hunters’ packs and the dog at their vehicle, then flew on to take the injured man to Wairau Hospital.