June 18th 2023
Alpine Rescue Canterbury (ARC) was tasked at 0815 hours by Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCC) to assist with the rescue of a man stuck on Mt Aicken in Arthur’s Pass.
Earlier that morning, as the man neared the summit of Mt Aicken (1863m), a slurry of mud and rock had spontaneously released, partly due to warming temperatures, catching the man, who was in his early 40s.
The man’s leg was pinned by the rocks, injuring his foot and ankle in the process. Fortunately the man was carrying a PLB and at 0808 hours he activated the beacon, alerting RCC and in turn ARC for a response.
Fortuitously, 12 members of ARC were already stationed at Castle Hill Village for a pre-winter season training weekend, allowing for a rapid response. Within 15 minutes, 5 team members were dispatched to Arthur’s Pass to attend to the job, with others following later in support.
A Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Helicopter immediately deployed two teams of two with a paramedic high onto Mt Aicken where they soon intercepted the injured man.
He had managed to free himself by breaking the rocks with his ice axe and was making slow progress with an injured foot down the mountain in deteriorating weather.
He was assisted down semi-technical terrain to below the cloud base at 1600m where he was airlifted back to Arthur’s Pass Village for medical treatment.
Soon after reaching the village the weather worsened further with lowering cloud that would have made helicopter access increasingly difficult.
This event once again shows the importance of bringing a PLB and leaving intentions to enable an expedient rescue where time is of the essence.
Thanks to Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue and RCC NZ for their assistance with this successful rescue, and we wish the injured man a quick recovery.
Alpine Rescue Canterbury 