Crimeline: Tricky rescue after woman falls above Kawarau River
Tricky rescue after woman falls above Kawarau River
Sixteen volunteer firefighters from Frankton, Queenstown and Arrowtown took part in what was a tricky rescue after a young woman in her 30s or 40s fell about 6m down a steep bank off a walking trail above the Kawarau River on Saturday night (13 June).
Frankton Brigade Chief Fire Officer Paul Halsted says initially both Queenstown and Frankton brigades attended but Arrowtown’s specialist Lines 2 rescue team had to be called in to assist in the rescue, just as darkness fell. They were equipped with more rope resources and equipment to assist in the steep terrain.
He says the woman had fallen off a bank and was unable to make her way back up. “It was very dark and fairly steep,” he says.
She had fallen from the upper track above the river near Frankton.
He says the brigades worked well together with firefighters reaching her and making it safe to belay her up using a rope system. Seven crew from Frankton, five from Queenstown and four from Arrowtown were all involved. St John Ambulance staff then took the woman for medical assessment.
Suspicious fire in Beach Street toilets
Police are investigating after toilet paper appeared to have been deliberately set alight in three separate cubicles in public toilets in Beach Street in downtown Queenstown at 6am last Thursday morning, 11 June.
Constable Amanda Shute says Police called in the Queenstown Fire Brigade after the three toilets were set on fire and their investigation continues.
Smoke was pouring from the toilets, and a brigade spokesman says they extinguished the fires and handed back to the Police.
Drugged drivers beware – Police random testing
From this weekend (20 – 21 June) motorists can expect to be stopped for drug testing as well as breath alcohol testing with local Road Policing teams beginning random roadside drug screening “for any driver at any time on any road”.
Otago Lakes Area Road Policing Manager Acting Senior Sergeant Dylan Hannah-Jones says drivers anywhere can expect to be stopped and drug tested at random by Police. “A failed oral fluid test may result in a $400 fine and 75 demerit points,” he says.
The new tool is now available to Police under new legislation that has been in the pipeline for some years and will help Police keep drugged drivers off the roads, he says.
“This is a complementary tool to our existing compulsory impairment test. Oral fluid, or OFT, provides Police with the ability to screen drivers at random for qualifying drugs in a bid to keep roads free of drug impaired drivers,” Hannah-Jones says.
Drink driving
Police clocked another alleged high drink driving level after stopping a 22-year-old local woman at 4.50am on Frankton Road yesterday (Wednesday, 17 June). Shute says the young woman allegedly blew 960mcg and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 22 June.
Other drink driving:
26-year-old local man, 400mcg, 1.09am, 13 June. Infringement notice issued.
38-year-old local man, 298mcg, 5.51am, 14 June, Frankton Road
