On the 7^th April 2024 our son Tom was in a vehicle accident while hunting in the Danseys Pass.

It was 7.00 AM on a frosty morning when the vehicle slid off the track. Tom’s hunting friends Sam and Craig managed to bail out in time, but Tom was trapped in the rolling vehicle down a very steep gully.  At some point Tom was thrown from the vehicle.

Fortunately, Sam was uninjured and was able to reach Tom and set off the personal locator beacon immediately. Tom was in really bad shape and the eventual sound of the helicopter was of immense relief.

Tom was managed at the scene by the paramedics and winched from the steep terrain. He suffered life threatening injuries, a severe brain injury, multiple spinal fractures, collapsed lung, bruised heart, liver and spleen lacerations, fractured right pelvis, broken right femur, lacerated left ear, dislocated left knee with complex ligament damage.

He remained in an induced coma in Dunedin ICU for two weeks and was then airlifted to Christchurch Hospital for specialized treatment. Tom was treated in Christchurch Hospital for 5 weeks and then spent time at Puawai Rehabilitation Centre and Burwood Hospital.

On the 31^st July Tom went home to his family. It has been one hell of a journey. He has amazed us with his recovery and showed courage, tenacity and determination throughout his rehabilitation. Against all odds Tom has made a miraculous recovery.

This could have been a totally different story if it hadn’t been for the emergency locator beacon, the amazing search and rescue team and all the medical personnel that helped in Tom’s recovery. We will be forever grateful to everyone involved.

Words cannot express how thankful we are to the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service.

From Jo and Paul