Thread: Near-Miss

Inspired by 57jL post about his near death experience, I too had a close call in March this year with a hunting accident (call it a navigational slip-up if you like) that I thought I should share. I've been hunting North Island bush for about 20 years now, and this one really hit home as a "close call". I consider myself very safety conscious as its in my job description for the company I work for as a National H&S manager, but also I just think we can be more safety conscious and assess and mitigate potential hazards that we encounter while hunting (fark there's the H&S in me coming out already). My great grandfather had a hunting accident (fell off horse pig hunting and hit head) and died as a result. I for one don't want to repeat history within the family.

Moving on, the Kaimais to those familiar with it can be absolute shit to navigate through at the best of times with walls of supplejack and thick bush. I'm no stranger to having to push through shity stuff to get to areas that are worth exploring. This day was no different. Coming down what appeared to be a old logging track to a river was no issue. I assessed the river and opposite ridge and plotted my best route to navigate up the the opposing ridge.

Having crossed the river safely, I started walking the leading ridge in the hope that it would open up near the top which normally is the case. The bush was difficult to push through, and in one particular spot very thick to chest height. Rifle with an empty chamber, held in my right hand, I gingerly pushed ahead and upwards through the bush, placing 1 foot at a time. Some fern ahead gave me the confidence to go a bit quicker. This is when things got interesting. On placing my right foot down, I encountered emptiness (a small hole I thought) and the weight of my body moving in a forward motion was enough for me to commit to placing my other foot. Again nothing under me. Things slowed down, I was falling. "Why am I falling, what is happening, is this a cave?" Total confusion and disorientation. Only a few seconds had passed and I had already pivoted by body around and was falling backwards and down into darkness with the sunlight disappearing above. I hit the ground hard and flat on my back, my neck snapping back and hitting the earth below me. My body was in a state of shock, and the wind was knocked out of me. It took a few moments for me to get my breath back, and try compose myself. Self-assessment time as I lay on my back. Can I wiggle my toes, fingers, move my limbs. Yes. Is there blood/bone sticking out, no! I was then able to get up and look around thinking what a shit place for Land SAR to try find someone in.

Time to reflect. Looking up, left/right I had fallen about 5m or more into a small what appeared to be man made crevice (about 40m in length) from the old logging days. Looking above, vegetation towered over it making it the most perfect disguised fall hazard you could imagine. I have never seen anything quite like it in my time hunting the Kaimais or anywhere else for that matter. My rifle butt was embebed deep in the soft dirt next to me which I had held onto all the way to hitting the ground. If you look closely, a small pile of rocks covered in green moss about 1-2m away could have knocked me unconscious. I call this "luck".

Having assessed myself, I was sore but able to walk myself out (half hunting) back to the car. The neck muscles and back for the following month were treated by my physio and no long term injury sustained as a result.

I was equipped and had access to my inreach in my pocket (zipped up always). Back pack always secured to me and unable to be dislodged (waist/chest strap) with all the things you need to survive a night in bush (survival sleeping bag, food/water, pain relief, Israeli bandage, celox etc). If I hadn't come home, my wife would have been able to pass on my hunting details to Land SAR as I always leave my hunting location and direction of travel intentions on the fridge.

Lessons to be learned, make sure you have dirt under your feet when pushing through thick stuff. Sounds simple doesn't it. Safe hunting!