Helicopter Rescue in Mount Owen Area

Young caver, Lee Merchant, of 80 Quebec Road, can not be blamed for feeling that a helicopter is the most wonderful invention ever created. He does, in fact, owe his life to one, the big Sikorsky machine based at Nelson, and to its bold and skilful pilot, John Raid. But for them, Lee might well have ended his life on Mount Owen after ho had fallen nearly 70ft down an 850ft cave he had discovered. For more then two days rescue attempts were thwarted by the weather which closed in around Mount Owen and Matariki, the forward base of the Nelson Search and Rescue Organisation, and the helicopter moved there when the weather threatened to worsen. Lee suffered serious spinal injuries which presented his being taken out of the mountainous region by stretcher. Fifty-two hours after the accident his condition had deteriorated to such an extent that John Reid quickly grasped the opportunity offered by a momentary break in the weather, to dash in, pick him up, and then fly home to Nelson. This flight was accomplished in minimum visibility conditions.

Lee can also thank his lucky stars that in Nelson he had the best search and rescue organisation to New Zealand to get him out. These voluntary searchers did a magnificent job.

The pix on this page were supplied to "Photo News" by Lee's fellow caver, Russell English, of Matamata.

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Some idea of the effort it took to get Lee out of the cave son be grained from this pic taken from about the spot from which he fell.

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Lee, comfortably strapped in the Nelson-designed Ashton-Parry stretcher, awaits the helicopter.

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The copter arrives and Lee is rushed to the cabin

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All aboard and away

Just a few days earlier the Search and Rescue Organisation was called out to locate a missing tramper, Raymond Brown, aged 20, of Wellington, who unwisely attempted to tramp from Matariki to Karama a over the Wangapeka track. He got lost and whan he did not reach Karamea by the appointed time, a search was organised. He was found unharmed, but hungry. These pix were taken for us by Max Curtis, leader of the Nelson expedition. Another group tramped in from Karamea.

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Lost and found: Raymond Brown

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Bill Cocker took this one of the group at Brown's tent: Brown, Max Curtis, Brian Weekes, Ross Curtis, and Colin Morris.

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Some idea of the country through which Brown wandered can be gained from this pic of a new hut one hour's tramp from the saddle and in an area Ross Curtis had cleared as a helicopter landing port.

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Radio communication is essential in such searches and Brian Weekes is the man with the know-how.