Man Slips and Falls On Mt Ruapehu

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Blake McDavitt a RARO (Ruapehu alpine rescue) team member with the injured man.

A man has been airlifted by Taupo's Greenlea Rescue Helicopter to Rotorua Hospital following a fall on Mt Ruapehu.

The 19 year old German man who is living and working in New Zealand was hiking alone somewhere above the valley T bar on the NW slopes of Ruapehu when he slipped and fell.

He believes he slid up to a hundred meters and sustained an open fracture to his femur among other cuts and abrasions.

The man then used his shoe laces to tie his legs together and covered a considerable distance dragging himself down the mountain. Fortunately his cries for help were heard by another man, and his daughter who were climbing to the summit, and they went to investigate.

They were able to alert emergency services, and with the help of the National park police and Ruapehu alpine rescue organisation members, the Greenlea rescue helicopter crew were able to take advantage of the small breaks in the passing cloud and get the man down off the mountain and to hospital.

ENDS

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