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Supplied / Stuff
Mt Somers, where a man fell 30 feet while walking. (File photo)
A 63-year-old man has survived after falling 30 feet onto rocks while hiking Mount Somers in the middle of Canterbury.
The Christchurch man suffered a compound fracture to his elbow and severe bleeding to his head in the fall Thursday, Garden City Helicopter general manager Simon Duncan said.
The man was knocked unconscious in the fall, but recovered when a team of Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 5.30 p.m.
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Police said he was injured around 4:30 p.m. and was later airlifted to hospital.
The man and his companion were descending from the top of the mountain.
The woman called 111 and was able to alert the police.
Duncan said she was “very lucky” that she had cell phone reception.
Police were able to locate the mobile phone.
The couple, believed to be of German descent, had planned to spend the night on the mountain.
Duncan said that a compound fracture meant that a bone was sticking out of the skin and would be extremely painful.
Paramedics administered painkillers before taking the man to the helicopter.
The woman walked to a higher, flatter area of the mountain and was picked up by the helicopter.
The man was taken to Christchurch Hospital and arrived there around 7:30 pm.
