Woman injured after 10m jump

A woman in her 40's had to be winched to safety from the Kauaeranga Valley in the Coromandel after suffering internal injuries.

The woman was canyoning with a group in the valley just north of Thames on Tuesday, when she sustained abdominal injuries after jumping 10m into the water at about 4pm on Tuesday.


A woman in her 40's
suffered internal injuries after jumping 10m into water in the Kauaeranga Valley north of Thames on Tuesday. Photo: ARHT

The injured woman was assisted from the water by members of the group before further help was sought, says Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust communications advisor Kerrie Spicer.

Once notified by the Rescue Coordination Centre that a personal locator beacon had been activated, the rescue helicopter dispatched to the scene at 4.15pm.

'The crew were updated enroute by Police Search and Rescue, and St John Ambulance were also advised. Updated information was that the patient had internal injuries.

'They located the general area and then departed for the Education Camp, where they landed and prepared for a winch.”

Kerrie says the helicopter then returned to the scene and winched Intensive Care Flight Paramedic Bruce Kerr with the air rescue vest down to the woman who was on a rock ledge near the bottom of a water fall.

Once extracted the crew landed back at the landing zone and shut down to treat the patient, before transporting her, via the Thames Airfield to get more fuel, to Auckland City Hospital in a moderate condition.


The spot where the woman was extracted from on Tuesday. Photo: ARHT

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1 comment

I hope....

Posted on 04-05-2016 20:57 | By GreertonBoy

The lady is ok... but I cant help thinking... I wish people would think about these 'adrenalin sports' and other risky activities in the wilderness.... these adrenalin junkies CHOOSE to go to these places and do risky things.... the rescue people dont have a choice but to put thier lives on the line coming to the rescue. My hat is off to the heli crews, it is just a shame they must risk thier lives to save these people... from themselves mostly. Great work by the rescuers.


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