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Source: ONE News -
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The Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is praising an emergency locator beacon fitted with GPS for the quick rescue of an injured tramper on Sunday.
The woman suffered a hip injury while on a group tramp near Shute's Hut on the Gentle Annie track, about 60km east of Napier, RCCNZ spokesman Ross Henderson said.
She was rescued from the rugged terrain within 90 minutes thanks to the GPS-equipped 406 Megahertz emergency locator beacon she was carrying, he said.
The beacon sounded the alert about 11.30am and the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter flew her to Hastings Hospital, where she was treated about 1pm.
The GPS technology fitted to the beacon meant rescuers were able to confirm her position immediately to within about 20 sqm.
The search area would have been much larger if she had been carrying a more basic type of beacon, Henderson said.
RCCNZ search and rescue officer Tracy Brickles said the group had also told others of their intended route and stuck to it, which had helped rescuers.
"Thanks to having this important information, combined with the accurate GPS positional data provided by the emergency beacon, we were able to get a helicopter to the injured woman very quickly.
"...who knows what might have happened or how long it may have taken to get help had she not been carrying one."
