Rapidly rising floodwaters today nearly thwarted the rescue of an 85-year-old man who spent a winter's night out in the open after falling from a ladder in a remote site in the Mokihinui Valley, in northern Buller.
St John Buller acting territory manager Joelle Fox said ambulance staff had to battle with some pretty horrible weather conditions to reach the victim, and then to drive him out to the road.
"The creek we drove out of with the victim on the back of a ute rose very rapidly and we almost didn't make it out," Ms Fox said.
The man's daughter-in-law became concerned that he was not at home this morning and went looking for him in the Mokihinui River bridge area. She found him about 10am and called for emergency services.
"The gentleman had fallen off a ladder while cutting firewood, and we believe he had been there since yesterday afternoon," Ms Fox said.
Once stabilised he was loaded on to the ute and driven into Mokihinui township, where he was collected by the Nelson-Marlborough Rescue Helicopter and flown to Grey Base Hospital.
"The elderly man is doing extremely well. He is alert and talking. I was totally astounded as to how well he was doing, it was just amazing," Ms Fox said.
- By Viv Logie
