Beacons activated on West Coast

The Maritime New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre responded to two beacon activations on the west coast within minutes of each other this afternoon.

A spokesman said both beacons were activated about 1.45pm.

One was activated when a plane had a ‘‘hard landing’’ on Big Bay Beach, at the top of the Southland region.

Four people were on board the plane and were apparently OK, he said.

It is understood the plane ended up on its roof, the spokesman said.

The company that owned the plane arranged for the people to be picked up, but no further information was available on whose plane it was.

The second activation was a tramper located 12km south-west of Jackson Bay, near Haast.

A Queenstown search and rescue helicopter was sent to the West Coast location, and a male tramper with a suspected broken leg was taken to Queenstown Hospital.

- © Fairfax NZ News