A climber injured in a fall on Mt Taranaki/Egmont has been rescued after activating a personal locator beacon (PLB), with Police praising the device for helping emergency services quickly locate him in difficult alpine conditions.
The rescue operation began about 9.50am after the climber activated his PLB when a fall left him stranded among snow and rocky terrain above the ski field.
A multi-agency response was launched involving Police, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), RTB Heli, Hato Hone St John, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue, Taranaki Alpine Rescue, the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and a member of the public. Challenging weather conditions meant the rescue took around five hours to complete.
Members of the Taranaki Alpine Rescue team reached the injured climber on foot, stabilised him and prepared him for extraction before he was airlifted to Taranaki Base Hospital. He was reported to be in a stable condition.
Police said the successful outcome highlighted the importance of carrying a PLB when travelling in remote or alpine environments. Acting Sergeant David Bentley, who coordinated the search and rescue operation, said the beacon enabled rescuers to quickly pinpoint the climber’s location despite deteriorating conditions.
Bentley said the climber had been well prepared and made the right decision by activating the beacon when he needed assistance, adding that the rescue demonstrated both the challenges of operating in alpine terrain and the value of strong cooperation between emergency agencies.
Police thanked everyone involved in the operation for their teamwork and professionalism, describing search and rescue as a community effort built on close collaboration.
They are continuing to encourage anyone planning trips into remote or mountainous areas to check weather conditions, tell others about their plans and carry appropriate emergency equipment, including a personal locator beacon.
