Two emergency locator beacons were set off in northern Fiordland yesterday after a tramper was injured and an aeroplane landed heavily.
Maritime New Zealand spokesman Steve Rendle said the beacons had been detected about 1.45pm yesterday when a satellite passed over the area.
The first beacon was situated 12km south of Jackson Bay, near Haast, where a 47-year-old Christchurch tramper was injured with a suspected broken leg.
Mr Rendle said the second locator beacon was set off by a Cessna 180 after it made a heavy landing at Big Bay Beach, north of Milford Sound, and ended up on its roof.
The plane was carrying four passengers, but no-one was injured, he said.
The tramper was picked up by a Lakes District Air Rescue Trust helicopter from Queenstown about 6pm.
The man was assessed by medical crew and found to have ruptured ligaments.
He was then taken to his vehicle which was parked in Haast.
Mr Rendle said the helicopter could fly directly to the injured man because he was carrying a personal locator beacon.
"If there's a message in this, it's the benefits of investing in an emergency beacon with a homing device. It may have saved this man's life."
Mr Rendle believed the aircraft was owned by Mosgiel-based Southair Ltd.
He said the company arranged for collection of the crew and passengers. No-one from Southair Ltd could be contacted last night.
