Mountain Rescue

"After a tiring day carrying 10ft. planks for the but, we sagged into our bags at the hut site at about 9 p.m. on Saturday night. At approximately 10.30 Barney Barclay (T.T.C plus Bill Oliver (V.U.C.) who had joined him coming down from Cone, came in bringing news of the accident which had happened at about 4.30 that afternoon. Barney, had left the scene of the accident at 5.5 and as he had been on the trail for over five hours. "Polly" Coleman and Stan Jenkins donned their gear and set off down the river, informing the occupants of Smith's and Tauherenikau Chateau on the way. They reached Kaitoke on record time.

The party which had been at Smith's Creek passed through the hut site at 3.30 and proceeded to Cone which they left at six. Our party left camp at 6.45. reaching Cone at 7.45 and leaving there at 8.15 after, a boil-up. In just under two hours we reached the injured girl's party a quarter of an hour below the scene of the accident. At that time Miss Jamieson was moving slowly down the gorge with assistance.

Later on the parly stopped for a boil-up and made a rough stretcher. At approximately 1.50 the party of eleven including Miss Jamieson continued on its way eight men carrying the stretcher, one path-finding and one clearing the path.

Progress was particular difficult here because of the steep and narrow gorge and because there was no relief for the stretch-bearers. After being carried over boulders and logs along the rough track for about two and a half hours. Miss Jamieson managed to walk with assistance for half an hour until met by a well-equipped rescue party about twenty minutes above Cone Hut. It was now about 5.30. p.m. and we had had nothing to eat since breakfast. At Cone. Ailecn Gridgeman and some other Tararuas were cooking. In our party were Ron Milburn. Ron Ellis, Bill Cameron and Bill Oliver with two WTMC trampers, two Tararuas and two shooters. By this time there were more trampers at Cone and as the hut was full we sent the overflow down to our camp at Block 16 for the night.

The stretcher party left our camp at about 10.30 next morning. By this time the weather had broken, rain had been falling steadily for some hours and all the rivers had risen. This was an added impediment to our progress. We left the Chateau about one, and arrived at Andrews Farm at 3.30 where we were met by the Press, and Miss Jamieson was taken by car to Wellington.

In spite of the difficulties of the rescue, it was carried out in record time, mainly due to the magnificent co-operation between the tramping clubs who participated.