A serious incident at Moki Point near Taylors Mistake triggered a rapid emergency response on Sunday afternoon, with Coastguard Sumner reaching the scene within minutes.
At 12.31pm on Sunday 4 January, Coastguard Sumner was tasked by Canterbury Police after a person fell down steep coastal rocks at the exposed headland. Moki Point lies just one bay from the Sumner base, allowing rescue vessels to launch almost immediately.
The HamiltonJet Rescue vessel was on the water within eight minutes, followed shortly by the Ian Dewe Rescue jet ski. On arrival, three Coastguard volunteers went ashore to reach the casualty, who was located on rocks below the cliff line.
The situation was treated as serious, with suspected spinal injuries. A Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched, while Taylors Mistake Surf Life Saving Club also responded, deploying patrollers and an inflatable rescue boat to assist.
A local GP who was nearby joined the response and worked alongside Coastguard volunteers, Surf Life Savers, and the helicopter flight paramedic to stabilise the patient. The combined team spent around 30 minutes on scene securing the casualty and preparing for extraction.
The patient was transferred to a stretcher and winched from the rocks in a controlled helicopter operation before being flown to hospital for further treatment.
The rescue involved close coordination between multiple agencies, including Coastguard New Zealand, Taylors Mistake Surf Life Saving Club, New Zealand Police, Sumner Volunteer Fire Brigade, and Hato Hone St John.
Following the operation, Coastguard vessels were cleaned down and returned to readiness. Coastguard Sumner has extended its best wishes for the casualty’s recovery.
