Radio Amateurs Aid in Rescue in Remote NZ park

Just days before the volcanic tragedy, a team effort to rescue an injured man in a remote New Zealand park, which included radio amateurs, took place.

The radio amateurs in New Zealand were praised for their help in the rescue of a man who became injured on remote conservation land in Canterbury.

The injured man was one of two who had been in the park when Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand received a report of a personal locator beacon activation there near Benmore Hut.

Detective Mark Buckley told the website stuff.co.nz that although a helicopter was sent to the scene, strong winds kept it away. It was not until 1:25 a.m. on Saturday that Volunteer Land Search and Rescue, or LANDSar teams accompanied by police found the two men.

They provided medical aid to one of the men whose right leg had suffered lacerations and who was unable to walk.

Detective Buckley credited the coordinated efforts of an Amateur Radio Emergency Communications team as well as volunteers from the Christchurch, Oxford and Ellesmere LandSAR teams.