\u201cSome rime ice came off the mountain and started moving quite quickly down the slopes above us. <\/p>\n
\u201cJames moved to take cover behind a rock … in the process of all of that, he just started sliding, and I watched the whole thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chester and James were climbing the Taranaki Maunga when the latter fell and tumbled 300m down the slope.<\/p>\n
Chester said it was \u201ccrazy watching your climbing partner slide away from you and [there\u2019s] nothing you can do\u201d, but added that James did everything he\u2019d been trained to, including attempting a self-arrest.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it wasn\u2019t able to stop his slide,\u201d Chester said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe fell probably about 300m down the hill, and while he was tumbling, his ice axe went into his abdomen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chester climbed down to James, concerned he\u2019d punctured his lung, but found his partner already calling 111.<\/p>\n
He set his personal locator beacon (PLB) off, then found some clothing to apply pressure to James\u2019 wound and stop the bleeding.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we had this really well-equipped med kit, I was able to dress the wound, bandage him up,\u201d Chester said.<\/p>\n
Rescue teams reached the pair on foot before they were located and extracted by the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also had paramedics on the phone while this was all going down, so they were very helpful in making sure I was doing the right things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having wrapped James in a foil blanket while they awaited rescue, Chester said his friend was still talkative and remained a \u201ctrooper throughout the whole thing\u201d.<\/p>\n
The PLB and first aid kit helped make the incident a \u201cmanageable emergency, rather than a major tragedy like it could have been\u201d, Chester said, later learning the ice axe had come as close as grazing James\u2019 lung.<\/p>\n
With the help of two rescuers, who showed up about an hour after notifying authorities, Chester said they moved James to a better spot where a helicopter could retrieve him.<\/p>\n
By the time it arrived, Chester said there were about seven or eight individuals tending to the pair on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really can\u2019t speak highly enough of everyone involved in [the rescue].<\/p>\n
Police subsequently credited Chester\u2019s quick use of a personal locator beacon (PLB) as key to the rescue\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty incredible to see multiple agencies co-ordinate so professionally, and we\u2019re really grateful for the care they took with James and helping him get to safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chester said it was important people adhered to mountain safety guidelines for their own protection, and strongly encouraged individuals to donate to LandSAR and Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust to support and acknowledge their work.<\/p>\n
Search teams \u2013 including police, Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand, RTB Heli, Hato Hone St John, alpine rescue teams from Taranaki and Ruapehu, and a member of the public \u2013 spent more than five hours getting the climbers to safety<\/a> after being notified shortly before 10am.<\/p>\n Police said rescuers reached the climber on foot, stabilised him and prepared him for extraction before he was airlifted by helicopter to Taranaki Base Hospital in a stable condition.<\/p>\n Acting Sergeant David Bentley, the search and rescue incident controller, praised the use of a PLB<\/a> as critical to the rescue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe climber did all the right things,\u201d Bentley said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was carrying a PLB and used it when he needed to, that decision made a real difference to the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Bentley acknowledged the \u201ccommunity effort\u201d of agencies involved and urged those heading into remote alpine areas to plan carefully<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re heading into remote terrain, make sure you\u2019re well prepared.<\/p>\n \u201cCheck conditions, tell someone your plans, and carry the right gear.\u201d<\/p>\n