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Plan and prepare before heading on an adventure!

Plan and prepare before heading on an adventure!

We don't want to be part of your Queen's Birthday Weekend adventure so please make sure it is one to remember for the right reasons by planning and preparing before you head out!

Overdue trampers, hunters and off-roaders have kept Canterbury Police SAR busy over the last week. Fortunately all of them returned home safely and have learned some valuable tips they can share with friends and ensure their next adventure goes to plan.

Canterbury Police SAR Coordinator, Sergeant Phil Simmonds says that all of the callouts over the last week could have been avoided if those involved had taken simple steps while they were planning their trips. “Telling someone trustworthy where you are going and when you are going to be back might seem obvious but last Friday morning (22 May 2015) a concerned parent called Police when their 19 year old son hadn’t turned up for work following a 4x4 trip the evening before. The man had texted his boss at around midnight saying the 4x4 had broken down but did not say whereabouts he was. Unfortunately before he left home he hadn’t told anyone what vehicle he was travelling in, where he was planning to go or who he was with.”

After he was reported missing Police were able to confirm that he had travelled with a friend in his vehicle and that his friend had called home at around midnight asking to be picked up from Morgans Valley. Unfortunately his parents were unable to find them. While Police continued to search the Heathcote Valley area for the two men and their vehicle they had made their own way out on foot. The two men called their parents shortly after 2.15pm from a friend’s house.

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“Don’t overestimate your ability and remember to check the weather forecast before you set off. Shortly before 9pm on Saturday night (23 May 2015) Police were alerted to four overdue climbers in the Mt Rolleston area of Arthurs Pass. A group of six climbers had set off at 10am that morning. Two members of the group took a harder route to climb Mt Rolleston while the other four opted to take a different route. Only one of the four was experienced” explained Sergeant Simmonds.

Canterbury Police SAR gathered information and plotted the most likely route the group could have taken ready to search the area at first light. Fortunately the four climbers walked out unaided arriving at their car at around 11.45pm. The climbers told Police the trip took longer than they expected.

Sergeant Simmonds said “Be familiar with your boat check the weather and tide conditions in the area. On Sunday night (24 May 2015) a family member contacted Police shortly before 6pm after their relative called to say they were stuck on a beach near Little Port Cooper. The three adults and four children under the age of five all had life jackets and were aboard their boat sheltering from the weather. They had phoned family members a number of times throughout the day saying they were ok. Worsening conditions when they tried to head home forced them to beach.”

The Coastguard was deployed by Canterbury Police SAR who found the group and took them back to Lyttleton. There was a marine radio on the boat but it doesn’t appear that the skipper used it to call for help.

“Take warm clothes and additional food if the weather is forecast to change during your trip. At around 8.25am on Mondaymorning (29 May 2015) Police were alerted to three hunters that had not returned home following a day long hunting trip. The group of three hunters left home early on Sunday morning but didn’t tell anyone where they were going hunting or which vehicle they were going in. There were concerns for their safety as a cold weather front had left snow in its wake across the south island. While Police were conducting inquiries to narrow down where the men could have gone one of the men managed to call a family member shortly before 11.40am” says Sergeant Simmonds.

Two of the men had hiked from the Clarence River area towards Hanmer Springs until they got a cell signal. Instead of calling Police they called to ask a family member to come and pick them up as their vehicle had broken down. The other man stayed at the St James Homestead DOC hut as he didn’t have warm clothing or sturdy footwear to hike with.

Due to the light overnight snowfall the person coming to pick them up couldn’t reach them, so an Officer from Hanmer Police Station made two trips to pick up the three men.

“If you’re planning a trip over the long weekend make sure you check the weather forecasts and tell someone you trust details of your trip including where you are going, when you’ll be back and who you are going with. It is a good idea to take a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) with you so you can raise the alarm if you or someone in your group gets into difficulties. This also allows us to locate you quickly” explained Sergeant Simmonds.

A poorly planned trip puts you and those that might need to come to rescue you at risk if things go wrong.

“Even if you’re only planning a day trip on foot or in your 4x4 take adequate supplies just in case your return gets delayed. Wear appropriate clothing and make sure you have a means of communication. Hire a PLB particularly if you’re heading on foot, bike or in a vehicle to a remote area or one with limited or no cell phone coverage” said Sergeant Simmonds.

Canterbury Police wish everyone a fun-filled safe Queens Birthday Weekend.

More information on planning your trip:

http://www.adventuresmart.org.nz/files/Outdoor-Safety-Code.pdf
http://www.adventuresmart.org.nz/Files/NZSAR-SCodes-with-NEW-Boating-image-hi-res.pdf

ENDS


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