2 May 2018

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Waimea Weekly

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Wednesday 2 May 2018

Club stalwart remembered

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Found after 10 days missing Emily Beaumont Reporter

emily@waimeaweekly.co.nz

Richmond’s Hart family never gave up hope, even as they entered into day ten of the search for their beloved family pet, Pip, the 9-year black Labrador. Their determination combined with Pip’s resilience saw a happy, albeit dramatic, home-coming after Pip survived a 1015 metre drop over steep and hostile terrain in Marlborough’s Branch Valley on Thursday, April 12. Roger and son Lee had headed into the bush for the roar with Pip loyally by their side when, just on dusk, she plummeted over a steep bluff, leaving Lee in disbelief as he heard “three distinct thuds” as she disappeared. Efforts to reach her were in vain, the terrain proving too treacherous. With diminishing light and near white-out conditions, the father and

son made the heartwrenching decision to call it a night. “As horrible as it is, we had to worry about our own safety,” says Roger. The pair used their GPS beacon to lodge co-ordinates and retreated to a hut. Over the next two days they spent the entire time searching, attempting to access the “fall zone” from various routes, grappling against open slopes peppered with mini Douglas-fir trees that added further risk by cunningly camouflaging sheer drops. The pair made the sensible decision to leave the bush on their expected return date and seek help. Resolute in finding their adored Pip, a helicopter took to the skies and the family went in every other day scouring the area on foot, a six-hour return car journey to reach the vicinity of the fall zone. After ten days a decision was made to give it one final shot.

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Young adventure racers

Roger and Maria Hart pleased to have Pip safely back home and ready for the long road to recovery ahead. Photo: Emily Beaumont. Inset: Pip reaches the safety of civilization thanks to her chopper rescue. Photo: Supplied. Roger and wife Maria were joined by guide Jack Gauld and his girlfriend Kate Burn and fortunately for the search team Sunday, April 22, provided clear and calm conditions, the best yet for the search. Finally Pip’s bark answered

calls and Jack discovered Pip enveloped in dense bush, 700 metres from the fall zone. Unable to get up, severely dehydrated and with blowflies on open wounds, the rescuers knew Pip needed veterinary attention fast and

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a call went out for a chopper. Flown to base, Pip was transferred to The Vet Centre in Richmond where Lee’s sister Samantha Carmody kept a watchful eye over her treatment. There’s a long road of recovery ahead of Pip, and she may yet have to undergo

the amputation of a rear leg and spinal surgery, but with the devoted Hart family by her side “everyday she seems a little brighter”. Follow this link to donate toward Pip’s recovery https:// givealittle.co.nz/cause/pipthe-labradors-recovery

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