S.A.R. Reports

Please, please take care in the hills...

To make a donation to Air Rescue Services in Canterbury/West Coast please visit www.airrescue.co.nz.

Should you have an emergency in the hills, firstly activate your PLB (should you have one) to alert RCCNZ, and if you have mobile phone coverage ring '111' and give them any useful additional information to pass onto the rescue services.

The following accident reports contain information provided by the Police, Air Rescue Services, Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Climbers and SAR recovery teams. Detail reports are only available 1998 onwards; prior data only logs fatalities and their brief causes.

There are valuable lessons to be learnt from all these incidents!

Search Year

Keywords

Fatal

PLB Triggered

SAR Type

SAR Reports - 2024

Records Found: 9
Fatalities: 0
PLB Activated: 6
Fall: 5
Exposure: 1
Rockfall: 1
Overdue: 1
Lost: 1
Abbreviations
ACR - Alpine Cliff Rescue
CAA - Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
DOC - Department of Conservation
FENZ - Fire & Rescue New Zealand
LandSAR - Land Search & Rescue (groups)
PLB - Personal Locator Beacon
RCC - Rescue Coordination Centre (Wellington)
SAR - Search & Rescue
22/10/2024 Poulter Hut
RCCNZ received a PLB activation in the vicinity of the Poulter hut, in the upper Poulter Valley of the Park around 0845hrs. A rescue helicopter was dispatched and discovered a tramper at the hut with a broken arm after a fall. The patient was transported to Christchurch Hospital. No further information available.
07/08/2024 Mingha River
At approx. 1600hrs RCCNZ picked a a PLB activation in the Mingha Valley in the vicinity of the Mingha Bivouac, almost simultaneously West Coast Police receive information from an overseas informant that a friend has been stationary for some time in the Mingha Valley (Spot Beacon positioning). Both incidents are confirmed to be the same.


Greymouth Rescue Helicopter was tasked to find the person. An initial aerial search failed to find anything at the PLB's coordinates. A check of the biv found the person, but she was reluctant to be rescued. Eventually she was transported to Arthur's Pass Village, cold but uninjured. It would appear she was not prepared for the wintry conditions.
14/07/2024 Bealey Spur
At approx 1550hrs Police received a 111 call from a father/daughter on the Bealey Spur track. The daughter had slipped on ice and injured her head. Police passed the call to ambulance who responded the West Coast Rescue Helicopter. The helicopter found and picked up the pair. No further information available at this time.
07/07/2024 Phipps Peak
At approx. 1600hrs a PLB was activated in an area above Temple Basin ski field, in the vicinity of Phipps Peak. RCCNZ responded the Greymouth rescue helicopter. The Police also place the ACR team on standby in case they are required. The helicopter crew discover a party of two climbers who are unable to descend whilst on a route near Phipps Peak. The party is uninjured. The helicopter crew are able to pick up both climbers and return them to the Temple Basin car park.
29/04/2024 Mt Rolleston
1545hrs - Two climbers successfully completed Otira Face route on Mt Rolleston. One climber took about a 20m fall down the Otira face whilst descending from high peak to the middle peak col, coming to rest on a small ledge. A PLB was activated. RCCNZ tasked the air rescue helicopter from Greymouth to initially respond. On arrival they determined they required the assistance of ACR to reach the injured climber and it is dispatched from Christchurch. Moderate injuries only received, considering the length and terrain of fall. The ACR team assists in accessing and retrieving the injured climber by 1900hrs. Both climbers are taken to Christchurch hospital.
18/04/2024 Crow Hut
RCCNZ received an InReach (PLB) activation at about 1500hrs, located near the Crow Hut in the Crow Valley of Arthur's Pass National Park. A rescue helicopter was dispatched from Christchurch. A person with a broken ankle was found at the Crow Hut and taken to Christchurch Hospital for treatment.
29/03/2024 Amber Col - Polar Range
At 1700hrs RCCNZ received a PLB activation in the vicinity of Walker Pass / Amber Col (the PLB was moving). RCCNZ tasked a helicopter with an ACR team to respond from Christchurch. Whilst tracking the PLB, the helicopter crew found that the PLB/climbers had returned to the Hawdon Hut. A person had been injured in a fall in the vicinity of Amber Col. The injured party was uplifted and flown to hospital. Due to the lack of seating in the helicopter the ACR team were left at the hut for the night and were retrieved by helicopter the following morning.
24/03/2024 Goat Pass
Police SAR received a report of a group of people overdue from a run over the Deception - Mingha route (Coast to Coast course). The original group consisted of 9 persons, 5 of the group completed to run to Greyney's Shelter leaving 4 members at Goat Pass hut.
An InReach message from the Goat Pass persons requested a rescue. Police advised them to stay the night at the hut, and walk out via the Mingha River the following day - alternatively pay for an expensive helicopter extraction. The party walked out on the 25 March.
18/02/2024 Mt Rolleston
A party of 4 climbers descending the Otira Slide route of Mt Rolleston triggered a PLB at approx. 1545hrs after one of the party was struck by a rockfall receiving a serious head injury, and other wounds. They were at approx. 2100m on the route.
RCCNZ initially deployed the rescue helicopter from the West Coast that was able to locate the patient but was unable to get paramedics to the injured climber at 1630hrs, and was later diverted to a serious road accident nearby. The Christchurch rescue helicopter with members of the ACR team was then deployed. They arrived at the patient at about 1830hrs after being set down lower on the Goldney Ridge.

The patient was stabilised, and winched to the helicopter at 1935hrs, then taken to Christchurch hospital.

Fatal Accidents in the Arthur's Pass (APNP) / Craigieburn Forest Park (CFP) / Korowai - Torlesse Tussocklands Park (KTTP) .. 1926 to present
DateLocationIncident Brief
2021 - x2
20 March 2021Rolleston River Valley - Arthur's Pass National ParkA body discovered in valley, believed to be missing tramper from Nov 2020.
30 October 2021Mt Aicken - Arthur's Pass National Park1 person died after becoming disorientated and falling off a cliff.
2020 - x1
14 January 2020Mt Cheeseman - Craigieburn Forest Park1 person died from paraglider crash.
2019 - x2
6 July 2019Bealey Spur - Craigieburn Forest Park1 person died from hypothermia after becoming lost.
13 April 2019Mt Lancelot - APNP1 person died after falling from lower bluffs.
2018 - x3
22 October 2018Mt Harper - APNP1 person died after being dislodged by wet snow avalanche from Camp Spur.
18 March 2018Temple Basin - APNP1 person died after falling 70m on Twin Falls creek.
6 February 2018Hogs Back - CFP1 person died of natural causes whilst mountain biking.
2016 - x3
1 December 2016Mt Harper - APNP1 person died after falling 150m on Camp Spur route.
1 February 2016Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died after falling 50m on Otira Slide route.
3 January 2016Deception River - APNP1 person drowned whilst crossing river.
2014 - x2
15 September 2014Lake Lyndon - KTTP1 person drowned whilst recovering boat.
19 March 2014Helicopter Hill - CFP1 person died of natural causes whilst walking.
2009 - x1
12 September 2009Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person fell through ice bridge into deep chasm.
2008 - x4
6 December 2008Waimakariri River - APNP1 person drowned crossing river in high flow.
26 October 2008Mt Philistine - APNP1 person fell 150m from Warnocks Bluff route.
16 January 2008Craigieburn Range - CFP2 persons killed in light aircraft crash.
2007 - x1
4 June 2007Avoca Valley - CFP1 person fell over cliff in upper valley.
2006 - x3
15 March 2006Browning Pass - APNP1 person fell 200m over cliff.
March 2006Cave Stream Reserve1 person fell over 8m cliff descending to cave entrance.
26 February 2006Mt Aicken - APNP1 person fell over cliff whilst off-route descending.
2005 - x1
9 April 2005Mt Cassidy - APNP1 person fell over cliff whilst off-route descending.
2004 - x2
5 October 2004Punchbowl Falls - APNP1 person drowned near Punchbowl Falls.
6 February 2004Harper River - CFP1 person died of heart attack on Cass-Lagoon track.
2003 - x2
21 June 2003Cave Stream Reserve1 person died of hypothermia in Cave Stream.
9 March 2003Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person fell down bergschrund on Otira Slide route.
2002 - x1
21 June 2002Mt Philistine - APNP1 person fell 70m from Warnocks Bluff route.
2001 - x3
4 August 2001Mt Philistine - APNP1 person fell 100m from Warnocks Bluff route.
11 April 2001Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person fell from into bergschrund from High Peak.
8 April 2001Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person fell from bluffs on Otira Face route.
2000 - x1
15 October 2000Temple Basin - APNP1 person fell 50-100m returning from ski-field.
1999 - x1
20 February 1999Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person fell 250m whilst tramping.
1998 - x2
29 April 1998Browning Pass - APNP1 person fell 150-200m whilst tramping.
23 April 1998Hawdon / Sudden Valley - APNP1 person missing. Body not found.
1997 - x1
24 May 1997Sudden Valley - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1996 - x5
30 June 1996Porter Heights - CFP1 person taken by avalanche.
12 February 1996Hawdon River - APNP2 persons drowned whilst crossing flooded river.
21 January 1996Arthur's Pass1 person died in helicopter crash.
17 January 1996Tumbledown Creek - APNP1 person missing, presumed drowned.
1995 - x3
11 November 1995Bealey River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
19 August 1995Temple Basin - APNP1 person died sliding down steep gully onto rocks below.
24 April 1995Mount Harper - APNP1 person died when fell 60m over bluff, 200m down iceslope.
1994 - x2
17 December 1994Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died whilst sliding down Goldney Glacier, over 60m cliff.
8 January 1994Hurunui River (Harper Pass route)1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1993 - x2
15 May 1993Taramakau River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
17 April 1993Lyell Peak - APNP1 person died of heart attack.
1992 - x3
14 November 1992Anti-Crow Stream - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
11 August 1992Broken River Ski field - CFP1 person taken by avalanche, body found 2 December 1992.
14 March 1992Mts Philistine/Rolleston1 person disappeared whilst tramping, presumed dead.
1991 - x3
5 April 1991Arthur's Pass - Mt Cook traverse1 person disappeared, no body found, presumed dead.
15 February 1991APNP1 body found, no other information.
3 February 1991APNP1 body found, no other information.
1990 - x1
25 April 1990Edwards Valley - APNP1 person died of stroke whilst tramping.
1989 - x2
10 May 1989Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person fell while tramping, remains found 30 October 1993.
15 January 1989Avalanche Creek - APNP1 person fell 40m into plunge pool of waterall.
1988 - x2
22 February 1988Mt Cassidy - APNP1 person fell over bluffs and died.
1988?Craigieburn Forest Park1 person collapsed and died whilst day tramping.
1987 - x4
12 November 1987Arthur's Pass - APNP1 person found dead in car.
29 October 1987Cave Stream Reserve1 person drowned after falling.
19 September 1987Broken River Ski Field - CFP1 person died after sliding into rocky gully.
16 January 1987Deception River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1986 - x1
14 September 1986Mt Hamilton - CFP1 person died as result of ski fall onto rocks.
1984 - x3
28 October 1984Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died after fall from Low Peak.
1 June 1984Temple Col - APNP1 person died as result of very high fall.
26 January 1984Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died after fall of 300m into bergschrund.
1983 - x2
15 May 1983Waimakariri Col - APNP1 person died as a result of 30m + 200m fall.
31 March 1983Browning Pass - APNP1 person died from injuries sustained in fall.
1982 - x3
30 December 1982Mt Murchison - APNP2 persons died as result of summit cornice collapse.
13 July 1982Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died from fall onto rocks.
1981 - x1
12 July 1981Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died as result of exposure after 45m fall on snow tussock.
1980 - x1
27 April 1980Waimakariri Falls - APNP1 person fell 80m from bluff.
1979 - x6
13 December 1979Klondyke Corner - APNP4 person died as a result of landslip engulfing campsite.
1979Anti-Crow Stream - APNP1 person fell onto rocks then into stream - drowned.
13 June 1979Hawdon River - APNP1 person fell from track into river and drowned.
1978 - x2
23 November 1978Anti-Crow Stream - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
12 March 1978Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died as result of climbing accident.
1977 - x1
26 March 1977Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died as a result of 22m fall on Otira Slide.
1976 - x1
8 December 1976Waimakariri Gorge1 person drowned in rafting accident.
1975 - x6
8 November 1975Bealey/Mingha River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
25 August 1975Temple Basin - APNP1 person died in avalanche.
27 May 19757 Mile Creek - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
25 February 1975Clough Cableway - APNP2 person died as result of helicopter crash into cableway.
30 January 1975White River - APNP1 person died from heart attack.
1973 - x1
16 September 1973Waimakariri Col - APNP1 person died from fall down 30m bluff.
1972 - x4
12 November 1972Cora Lyn - Waimak River1 person drowned as result of rafting accident.
13 May 1972Mt Rolleston - APNP2 persons died as result of climbing accident on Otira Slide.
3 April 1972Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died as result of climbing accident on Bealey Slide.
1971 - x1
30 March 1971Avalanche - Rolleston Ridge - APNP1 person died from exposure caused by medical condition.
1969 - x1
2 August 1969Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died in avalanche.
1967 - x3
8 April 1967Mingha River - APNP2 persons drowned crossing flooded river.
22 March 1967Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died after fall into bergschrund on Otira Slide.
1966 - x5
24 June 1966Mt Rolleston - APNP4 persons died as a result of a climbing accident on the Otira Face.
24 June 1966Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died as result of avalanche on Otira Slide whilst part of rescue for incident above.
1965 - x1
15 November 1965Otehake River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1964 - x1
28 March 1964>Mt Rolleston - APNP1 person died from fall while climbing.
1963 - x2
23 August 1960Bridal Veil Falls - APNP2 persons died from fall during traverse above waterfall.
1959 - x1
13 November 1959>Goat Creek - APNP1 person died after falling during traverse of bluffs.
1956 - x4
26 January 1956Wilberforce River - APNP1 person drowned while crossing high river.
31 March 1956APNP1 person died from fall off bluff.
31 March 1956Mt Harper - APNP1 person died when struck on head by rock whilst climbing.
18 November 1956APNP1 person died as result of hunting accident.
1955 - x2
4 August 1955Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died in avalanche.
9 July 1955Bridal Veil Falls - APNP1 person died after falling over bluff at night - was climbing Mt Cassidy.
1954 - x1
15 February 1954White River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1950 - x3
22 July 1950Torlesse Range - TTP3 persons died when overwhelmed by avalanche.
1949 - x1
27 December 1949Taramakau River - APNP1 person drowned crossing flooded river.
1942 - x1
27 August 1942Temple Basin - APNP1 person died when overwhelmed by slab avalanche.
1935 - x2
26 December 1935CFP2 persons drowned while crossing flooded river.
1933 - x2
1 August 1933Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died when overwhelmed by avalanche.
1 July 1933Avalanche Peak - APNP1 person died when overwhelmed by avalanche.
1932 - x2
1932Taipoiti River - APNP2 persons died, one as result of fall, other from exposure.
1926 - x1
August 1926Waimakariri River - APNP1 person drowned as result of rafting accident.



Page updated 24/09/2024

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