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Source: ONE News
A tramper who fell down a bluff and was perched precariously above a steep drop has been winched to safety in a dramatic helicopter rescue in Fiordland.
Scott Pauley, originally from Dunedin but now living in Sydney, said he was "very lucky to be alive" after he became separated from his walking companion and fell down a 20 metre chute near Lake Roe in Fiordland National Park at about 10.30am Saturday.
Pauley fortunately managed to stop himself on a tiny ledge, which was only just big enough for him to sit on if he crunched into a ball. The ledge was the last safety point before a vertical fall, which Pauley estimated could have been up to 100 metres, he told NZPA from Te Anau.
He activated his Personal Emergency Locator Beacon, which was detected by a satellite, and opened out his bright yellow pack liner so he could be seen more easily.
"I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the fact I had the beacon on me. Where I was you couldn't see me because I was deep in the crevice."
He said that while waiting for rescue on the ledge he felt grateful to be alive.
"I had an overwhelming desire to see my family and girlfriend."
He was picked up by the helicopter about 2pm.
National Rescue Coordination Centre mission controller Keith Allen said it was a very difficult manoeuvre swinging a rescuer on a long line from the Southern Lakes rescue helicopter and carefully winching him back to safety.
Pauley said he was told that it was a highly technical rescue, and if the experienced pilot Richard "Hannibal" Hayes had not been on duty it would have been another day and a half before an abseiling team could have got to him.
Hayes said that it was the worst position he had ever been required to recover a live person from.
Surprisingly Pauley suffered no injuries apart from scrapes and bruises. His clothing and pack were also undamaged.
He says it probably hasn't yet sunk how close he had come to death.
"I am having a beer and celebrating that I am alive."
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