Fall Puts Tramper in Jam

Added Wednesday 15 August 2008 from Taranaki Daily News

Solo tramper Chris Rickards survived a 50-metre fall in the Pouakai Ranges yesterday - thanks to a patch of leatherwood bush. And his cellphone and bright red hat played a part in guiding a rescue helicopter to him. The drama hasn't put the 70-year-old off tramping, although he reckons it might slow him down for a day or two.

Mr Rickards fell from the summit of Maude Peak yesterday afternoon after slipping on mud and slush, eventually coming to a stop after getting jammed in dense alpine scrub and bush. "I fell from the peak and landed on my back into some leatherwood. "I was well and truly wedged in it's terrible stuff, all spiny with thick, coarse leaves, ideal for the rough terrain up there. "I couldn't move and I didn't know quite which direction the track was," said Mr Rickards, back in the comfort of his New Plymouth home last night.

Mr Rickards, who himself has spent many years working within search and rescue, was able to find his cellphone to call police and give directions. His bright red hat and a yellow pack liner helped rescuers in the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter locate him pretty quickly among the green bush.

Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter manager Noel Watson says the helicopter was called about 2.45pm. He said they could see Mr Rickards had fallen down a steep slope and had ended up in the top of the bushes. It looked as though Mr Rickards had tumbled down the slope on top of the alpine bush, about a metre above ground, he said.

The rescue team winched a paramedic down to Mr Rickards and the pair were then winched back into the helicopter. It was the first time the team had used the new winch during a rescue, Mr Watson said. He said Mr Rickards was very cold and shaking when the paramedic reached him. "It could have been ages before we found him if he was reported missing later in the day, it's difficult, dense terrain and a big area. The medic who went down described it as very, very cold. There was snow around and the ground was frozen," Mr Watson said.

The helicopter took Mr Rickards to Taranaki Base Hospital's emergency department, where he was treated for mild hypothermia before being discharged; he also suffered some bruising. "He is a regular tramper and had good gear, but in the way he was positioned, he couldn't get to it. Luckily, he was able to use his cellphone and give police a pretty good location."