Elderly mountain biker rescued
A 71-year-old Christchurch man, who biked on ahead of his group on the Coronet Loop, was found pushing his bike up the track towards Macetown after a search and rescue operation was launched.
Sergeant Tracy Haggart says a helicopter and search team were deployed amid failing light and concerns about his age and medical condition. The call came in at 5pm on Saturday, 12 April, when the man had failed to arrive back in Arrowtown.
“He was located just before dark heading into Macetown, pushing his bike up the track, after having taken a wrong turn,” Haggart says.
That was one of a number of call outs for the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter in a busy week.
A paraglider with serious injuries was airlifted from near Ramshaw Lane in Arrowtown after an accident around 10.30am on Sunday, 13 April. A St John Ambulance spokesperson says a helicopter flew the patient in a serious condition to Dunedin Hospital. No further details were available.
Another mountain biker was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after an accident in the Nevis Valley on Sunday, 13 April, and the crews also rescued four trampers in separate incidents from the backcountry, on the Routeburn Track, the Matukituki West Branch, Fiordland National Park and Skippers Point Cemetery.
Three were taken to Lakes District Hospital, one with moderate injuries after a fall, and two with minor injures. The crew also attended Dart Hut Campsite to help a camper with minor injuries.
