Post by jonsdigs on Jan 1, 2007 18:24:42 GMT -5
Christchurch teenager injured after falling off Peacock Rock
The Press (NZ) Tuesday, 2 January 2007
A Christchurch teenager became the second person within five days to be airlifted from the top of a Pohara cliff following a fall.
Ben Bakermans, 16, who was staying with his family at a Pohara motel, attempted to climb the precipitous Peacock Rock with his girlfriend, Natasha Adams, about 11am on Saturday. Natasha, who described the climb as "very rough" said that Ben's leg became trapped when he slipped and fell into a shallow hole near the top of the rock.
"I managed to get his leg out of the hole but he couldn't stand up, so I rushed down for help," she said.
It was the second accident at the same spot within five days. On Christmas Day, Christchurch teenager Cameron Ellis spent hours trapped in a hole after falling and breaking his leg near the top of Peacock Rock.
Three weeks ago, a 12-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after plunging 10m down a tomo in Clifton, another limestone area with sinkholes just 3km from Pohara.
Saturday's rescue operation involved police, fire and ambulance services, plus the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.
Takaka Fire Brigade deputy chief officer Kevin Hebberd said six firefighters, two ambulance officers, a policeman and Ben's father, Peter Bakermans, climbed the rock to attempt to rescue the youth, who sustained a suspected fractured ankle.
"As the boy was not too badly hurt, we hoped to try to bring him down in a stretcher but it was too dangerous," he said. By the time the helicopter arrived 20 minutes later, a crowd of holidaymakers had gathered at the foot of the cliffs at the Hanson Winter Reserve.
After airlifting the injured youth, the rescue helicopter landed briefly on Pohara Beach before taking him to Nelson Hospital.
Constable Crispin Lee, of the Takaka police, said he did not believe putting up warning signs in the area would prevent any further accidents.
However, he said the karst limestone cliffs of Pohara were riddled with tomos and reminded people "to take care of themselves". –Nelson Mail
Article
The Press (NZ) Tuesday, 2 January 2007
A Christchurch teenager became the second person within five days to be airlifted from the top of a Pohara cliff following a fall.
Ben Bakermans, 16, who was staying with his family at a Pohara motel, attempted to climb the precipitous Peacock Rock with his girlfriend, Natasha Adams, about 11am on Saturday. Natasha, who described the climb as "very rough" said that Ben's leg became trapped when he slipped and fell into a shallow hole near the top of the rock.
"I managed to get his leg out of the hole but he couldn't stand up, so I rushed down for help," she said.
It was the second accident at the same spot within five days. On Christmas Day, Christchurch teenager Cameron Ellis spent hours trapped in a hole after falling and breaking his leg near the top of Peacock Rock.
Three weeks ago, a 12-year-old girl suffered minor injuries after plunging 10m down a tomo in Clifton, another limestone area with sinkholes just 3km from Pohara.
Saturday's rescue operation involved police, fire and ambulance services, plus the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.
Takaka Fire Brigade deputy chief officer Kevin Hebberd said six firefighters, two ambulance officers, a policeman and Ben's father, Peter Bakermans, climbed the rock to attempt to rescue the youth, who sustained a suspected fractured ankle.
"As the boy was not too badly hurt, we hoped to try to bring him down in a stretcher but it was too dangerous," he said. By the time the helicopter arrived 20 minutes later, a crowd of holidaymakers had gathered at the foot of the cliffs at the Hanson Winter Reserve.
After airlifting the injured youth, the rescue helicopter landed briefly on Pohara Beach before taking him to Nelson Hospital.
Constable Crispin Lee, of the Takaka police, said he did not believe putting up warning signs in the area would prevent any further accidents.
However, he said the karst limestone cliffs of Pohara were riddled with tomos and reminded people "to take care of themselves". –Nelson Mail
Article