Big thanks to the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Service and Team
As the title says... yes a big thank you to the Nelson Marlborough Rescue helicopter team who came to my aid today when my leg fell victim to a tree root trap leaving me with a torn calf muscle on the Speargrass track near Cedric Creek midway between the Speargrass and Sabine huts.
What happened?... Right foot skated off forward and right, lost my balance twisted left, left leg trapped in another root, bent and twisted at the knee, fell to the low side of the track and heard/felt a distinct snap with a ton of pain. My initial thoughts of a break were discarded when I could put weight on it square but could not pivot or twist, may be Achilles? Composing myself I took a couple of strong pain killers and made very slow very painful progress about 500m over the next hour to the Cedric river.... I realized I would not be able to make it to the Sabine hut that day and would need help, if not in the short term, definitely within 36 hours.
What was I doing? No longer young and needing to get fitter and desiring some time in the bush, I choose a gentle 4 night walk to enjoy... Rotoiti to Tutaki. I allowed plenty of time and was in no hurry, it would be five easy relaxing days. I am mindful of slippery tree roots so had been focused on careful foot placing. (but not focused enough)
So I am at the Cedric river, in pain with a very limited capacity to continue... however I was not in any life threatening situation, forecast was good and I could survive a night or two out in these conditions, although no sleeping mat or fly sheet. Studying the map, the steepest part of the decent was yet to come and would be a very difficult as well as possibly a hazardous under taking with my leg having given way many times on all but the flattest even ground.
I was in contact with family using a Garmin in-reach. This was about the 5th time I have carried the ability to call for help ( 4 x mountain radio and 1 x EPIRB) in some 45 years tramping and have never called for rescue (I have arranged a flight out from Big Bay at my own cost many years ago, after a severe back strain.)
What to do, we... myself and daughter discussed options, possibly arrange for friends to walk in from Sabine to assist, but even with no load on my back the state of the leg and the decent would be a challenge... and the leg was not going to heal over night... I was in a good open location to be recovered and the location was precisely known, the pragmatic decision was to request assistance and stay put rather than re-enter the dense bush. This is what we did on, with my daughter calling 111 and explaining the situation. It was less than an hour from that decision, to being winched up from Cedric Bridge on route to the Nelson Base hospital.
So yes, a big thank you to the very proficient and professional rescue team... some of whom follow this forum. A big thank you to all those who support and sponsor the Rescue Helicopter service who in turn have assisted very many out of many dire straights over the years... this is a great valuable service to the community.
A foot notes...
In the past I would always have a sleeping mat and fly or bivvy bag in case I did ever get caught out... not having them with me this trip was a decision I made in light of the short daily distances, a dislike for unnecessary pack weight and... rightly or wrongly... knowing this time, I could call for help if needed. I will rethink this decision in the future.
While the Garmin worked fine and I did not use the SOS function on the in-reach... just communication with home and precise location, the rescue crew did voice a preference to use an EPIRB over the Garmin SOS function, although I do not recall the exact reason for this.
