Search highlights importance of keeping beacon on

Outdoors people using distress beacons are reminded to leave their beacon on once activated, after searchers had difficulty pinpointing a man lost in rugged terrain near Taupo when he turned the device off after 40 minutes.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) initiated a search at 6pm yesterday (Sunday 11 September) after detecting an initial alert from a personal locator beacon belonging to a 55-year-old Wellington man overdue in the Kaimanawa Forest Park near the head of the Tauranga-Taupo River.

RCCNZ Senior Search and Rescue Officer Keith Allen said the man, who had been tramping in the area, had also not helped himself by failing to stay put once the beacon had been activated.

“While it’s great that he was carrying a beacon, the search was made more difficult because he then switched it off soon after, plus he kept moving.”

Mr Allen said emergency beacon batteries were designed for prolonged use, so unless faulty, should continue to work for several days.

“Because some beacons also require at least two passes by orbiting satellites to get an accurate positional fix, if the beacon is turned off after activation, it may be missed by the second satellite pass. This makes it much more difficult for rescuers to pinpoint the exact location of the beacon and home in on the signal.

“The key message is that if you need to use your beacon in an emergency, switch it on and leave it on, until someone tells you to turn if off. Also, if you have to set your beacon off, where possible, try to find the highest point nearest you or an area of clear, open ground, as this will help ensure the signal is not interrupted by the surrounding terrain,” Mr Allen said.

“Once the beacon is activated, unless it’s unsafe, sit tight and wait for help. This could potentially take anywhere from a few hours to several days, so you need to be prepared to survive until help comes.”

Mr Allen said poor weather in the area last night meant that helicopters had been unable to fly, so a land-based search and rescue team from the Taupo and Turangi area had gone in on foot overnight to find the man. He was eventually located and picked up by the Youthtown Rescue Helicopter from Taupo at 7.15 am today. He was cold and wet but otherwise unharmed.

Tips for using your distress beacon

• Make sure it’s registered (this is free through RCCNZ)
• If you have to use your beacon in an emergency, switch it on and LEAVE it on
• Place the beacon at the highest point you can, or in an area of clear, open ground
• Unless it’s unsafe to do so, stay put
• Be prepared to survive for as long as it takes for help to arrive. This could be several days.