Search and Rescue at Lake Manapouri

At about 1.30 pm on Saturday 23 February 2013 Te Anau police and medical staff were advised of an incident on the Stockyard Track, Lake Manapouri where a 49 year old male had fallen from the top of an estimated 15 metre waterfall. The group had boated across Lake Manapouri to the track and walked to an area above the waterfall where the man had fallen the full height of it into shallow water below.

The alarm was raised by the injured mans wife and a friend using a cell phone.
Very little in the way of detail was obtained before coverage was lost.

A winch equipped Southern lakes search and rescue helicopter was sent to the scene from Te Anau and located the trio at the base of the falls.

A doctor and police search and rescue member were winched into the area and made there way to the scene where the injured man was assisted.

He was stabilised on site and then extracted from the remote area using the helicopter which returned with a long line. He was transported to Kew Hospital, Invercargill with moderate injuries including a broken elbow and broken foot.

Sergeant Tod Hollebon of Te Anau police said that the women at the scene did a very good job assisting the injured male and calling in the rescue. He was very surprised seeing the height the man had fallen from that he had survived the drop. "It was very fortunate given the height he did not suffer more severe or fatal injuries, quite incredible really. He was in some pain and he was cold but appeared pleased to be heading to hospital."

He said the group were well equipped with communication devices including a radio in the boat; however they said they had an emergency locator beacon but forgotten to take it with them on this trip.

ENDS

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