Wellington Police’s Search and Rescue squad was called into action on Sunday following a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) activation in the Little Akatarawa River area, Upper Hutt.
The Rescue Coordination Centre requested assistance after the beacon was activated by a tramping group deep in the bush. Upon arrival, Police SAR teams discovered a patient had fallen from height into a steep and narrow canyon, sustaining moderate injuries.
Thanks to a coordinated response involving Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR), Canyon Search and Rescue, and the Wellington Free Ambulance Rescue Response team, the patient was safely moved from the challenging location to a suitable site for helicopter extraction.
Wellington District Search and Rescue Duty Officer Constable Jago Dellow says this was a significant team effort in difficult terrain. “The combined expertise of our volunteers and emergency services ensured the patient received urgent medical care.”
The tramping group was well-prepared and carrying multiple PLBs.
“If they hadn’t had a beacon, it could have taken hours to reach an area with cell phone coverage,” says Constable Dellow. “This incident highlights the importance of carrying multiple forms of communication and letting someone know your plans before heading into the outdoors.”
As summer approaches, Police are reminding outdoor enthusiasts to plan ahead and be prepared:
- Before heading into the outdoors, make sure you’re properly equipped. That means packing enough warm clothing, food, and shelter to handle unexpected conditions — and carrying at least two reliable forms of communication. One of those should ideally be a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), which can alert emergency services even when you’re far from cell coverage.
- Plan your trip carefully and always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return. These simple steps can make all the difference in an emergency.
