Things change in a heartbeat and that was how it was for Roz on a day walking on the West Coast.
It was a stunning, frosty winter morning my husband and I were doing a river crossing when he lost his footing and pushed me under the water, both being swept downstream, he gained his footing, but my foot was trapped in the rocks. As I sailed past my foot, I grabbed a large rock and walked myself back to my trapped leg.
Now sitting in chest deep water, I tried in vain to get my foot out, both our attempts to free it didn’t work.
Now we had two cold wet people, decision made time to activate my PLB. It seemed the wisest course of action. The only thing I could do was to stay calm, don’t waste energy panicking.
I knew my PLB was going to save my life today.
With my husband out of the river and in dry clothes I just had to focus on myself until help arrived.
I had been in the river an hour when the helicopter team arrived. A kind gentle voice arrived behind me, and when I got a little stressed he said that they were going to take my pack.
Hernan promised they wouldn’t let me go.
I was pretty tired, and my legs and arms were almost numb. Both crew worked together to free my foot and get me to the bank and deal with the hypothermia.
Later Hernan said that Roz’s situation was critical and another 30 minutes in the water could have been devastating.
The crew were given a letter of commendation from GCH Aviation for their work saving Roz from this life or death situation.