An experienced tramper of over twenty years recalls the moment a routine multi-day tramp turned into a fight to get out alive.
Local tramper John Sharpe has already ticked off three multi-day tramps since January. But this time last year, he recalls he nearly didn’t make it out of thick bush when his body started hallucinating.
As an experienced tramper, John recalls how quickly things took a turn for the worse, and how being stranded in remote bush alone felt like a frightening prospect.
A trip like any other – until it wasn’t
“I had a five-day loop planned and have walked this area before – I have been tramping through the North Island for twenty or so years with no issues prior to this. I had a route planned with reasonable days, nothing too long or technical. Day one, two and three were all without any indication of issues or problems.
“Midway through day four it was becoming apparent something was ‘off’ – I began to struggle to achieve a sensible distance between breaks and felt very weary over a short period of time despite being well hydrated and eating well. Hallucinating there was a zebra on the path at one point really brought it home that I would likely be in a bad way if I managed to complete day four, and day five was really not looking good.”
Calling for help
John knew that if he collapsed he could be there for a significant length of time before being found. Within twenty minutes of raising the alarm, he heard the rescue helicopter overhead.
“Oh my lord the relief was palpable – the sound of the helicopter coming to get me really was like an angel from heaven coming to the rescue!”
Air Crew Officer Michaela Horsefield winched John out that day and believes he was extremely lucky.
The road to recovery
After a visit to the doctor and a diagnosis that he was battling a lingering bronchial infection, John made a quick recovery and insists the experience has taught him a valuable lesson.
“The big learn is to listen to your body and to what it is telling you – if something doesn’t feel quite right or your body is not responding as it normally would then listen to it earlier rather than later.”
The bigger picture
Hawke’s Bay’s Rescue Helicopter conducts around 400 lifesaving missions every year – made possible through essential Government funding combined with the generous support of local communities who provide grants, sponsorship and donations to sustain operations and assist in purchasing key equipment.
