Season Magazine - March 2025
When 54-year-old Jacquie Boer went for a run during a family trip to St Arnaud the last thing she expected was to spend the night in the bush.
Jacquie embarked on a loop track run which should have led her back to the carpark. Instead, she watched the fading light and knew that she was in for a cold night dressed in just her running gear.
“I didn’t have my phone, food, water, or extra clothing,” says Jacquie. “After a very, very cold mid-July night I was finally able to see the trail markers and find my way back to where I started. Ice had formed on the path where I had been sitting overnight which showed how very fortunate I had been to make it through unscathed.”
There had been a huge search and rescue effort mounted to find Jacquie after her partner raised the alarm. Despite the team of personnel on the ground and in the air she was not found.
“If I had had a personal locator beacon (PLB) with me the outcome would have been very different and I wouldn’t have had a cold night alone,” says Jacquie.
A PLB is a simple device that, when activated, sends a distress signal to rescuers.
PLB proponent Hamish Pirie has spent more than 20 years volunteering in search and rescue in New Zealand and is on a mission to help ensure people like Jacquie are well-equipped for outdoor activities.
“PLBs aren’t just for big adventures,” says Hamish. “They’re an essential tool when you’re travelling and provide peace of mind for any activity where phone coverage might be lacking.”
“I’ve seen plenty of people who were just off for an ordinary mountain bike ride, walk, or run who have had a medical event or serious injury and just didn’t make it home,” says Hamish. “In many cases they were alone and no-one knew where they were.” Hamish highlights that a PLB can make the difference in an emergency. “If you want to be located and rescued more quickly, a PLB is your best option.”
Hamish stresses the importance of registering your beacon, as this helps rescue teams respond more efficiently in case of an emergency. “Registering your beacon is a simple step and is also a legal requirement in New Zealand,” says Hamish.
See Gearshop's range of Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) here.
