Called For Help By Cell-Phone

The Wellington Based Westpac Rescue Helicopter Rescued a 17yr old female from Wainuiomata, in the hills above Wainuiomata, NZ, on Saturday.

The missing hiker contacted the Police on her cell phone and advised them of her location by what she could see. Police were then able to get a rough idea of her location for the Helicopter crew to search. The tramper was unable to get back down to Wainuiomata from her location on the ridge and was cold and tired and had run out of water.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded with a Wellington Free Ambulance winch-trained Paramedic onboard.

The Helicopter Crew using Night Vision Goggles(NVGs) were able to located the light from her cell phone and were then able to land nearby. If she didn't have the cell phone she would have been much harder to located and would have taken longer to search the ridge line.

The Helicopter was able to land on the track on the ridge approx 100m from the hiker who was able to walk back to the Helicopter with the Paramedic. Once she was on board the Helicopter she was then flown to the Wainuiomata Fire Station where she was checked out by ambulance and Police staff members.

FMI: www.lifeflight.org.nz