The child fell approximately 20m down a hill and off a cliff before a rescue helicopter was dispatched to airlift them out of the area. Hato Hone St John confirmed that the patient was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a moderate condition.
Reports suggest that the child was part of a group of families hiking in the area, highlighting the importance of being cautious in alpine environments. The chair of the Mt Somers Walkway Society, Robert Schikker, emphasized the risks associated with such terrains despite social media posts indicating it as an easy tramping spot.
The Mt Somers Track offers two huts for trampers – the Pinnacles Hut and the Woolshed Creek Hut, where many families have been exploring recently. Schikker advised trekkers heading to the Pinnacles Hut to carry a personal locator beacon due to unreliable cellphone reception in the area.
