Australian bow-hunter Raymond Daniel (32) underwent surgery in Dunedin Public Hospital last night for fractures received when he tumbled about 100m down a steep, rocky face in the Mt Aspiring National Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Daniel, an experienced bow-hunting guide from the Northern Territory, was hunting with an American man on steep terrain between Raspberry Creek and the Aspiring Hut when he fell, Const Mike Johnston of Wanaka Police said yesterday.
Mr Daniel broke both ankles and four ribs and received serious head lacerations in a fall caused when he was hit by a rock from above.
Const Johnston understood Mr Daniel received 32 stitches to his head and was under observation because of the head injuries. The hospital said last night he was "doing well".
Wanaka police and LandSAR Wanaka volunteers mounted a search and rescue operation after Mr Daniel's companion called for help on a satellite phone about 5pm on Wednesday.
The searchers were told Mr Daniel had tumbled about 100m over rocks and bluffs.
A search and rescue crew in an Aspiring Helicopters machine scanned the area for a short time before night fell but it had to stand down. The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, equipped with night vision goggles, was called from Dunedin and found the men in the dark, helped by the hunters' headlights.
It was too steep for the chopper to land, so Alpine Cliff Rescue Team members Lionel Clay and Richard Raynes were winched down and stabilised Mr Daniel before he was winched out.
Mr Daniel was uncomfortable and in a lot of pain and was treated by advanced paramedics travelling with the rescue chopper, before being flown to Dunedin Hospital about 9.30pm, Const Johnston said.
Mr Daniel's friend was also winched out and later drove to Dunedin with another friend.
