A veteran volunteer on the Whanganui River has given the gift of life to the Department of Conservation.
Murray Ware, who has canoed the river 33 times, has donated a defibrillator for John Coull Hut on the river.
Mr Ware is a long-term volunteer hut ranger at John Coull and recently had a health scare himself while on the river.
His connection goes back to 1979 and his first canoe trip on the river.
A member of the Whanganui River Rats he has canoed the river 33 times and began volunteering at Tieke Kainga and John Coull Hut for DOC in the 1980s. He volunteers as a hut ranger each summer over the busy tourist season.
His last summer as a hut ranger ended in a medical evacuation. Given his own experience and understanding of the isolation of John Coull Hut, he saw the need for a defibrillator at the site.
"I hope no one ever needs to use the machine, but having it there could save a life one day" said Mr Ware.
DOC recreation ranger Dave Westcott said the "defibrillator could be the difference between life and death for someone at John Coull and we are extremely grateful to Murray for his donation."
The John Coull hut and campsite is the most popular stopover on the Whanganui Journey Great Walk with more than 5500 visitors last season. Between the Great Walk season of October 1 and April 30 a volunteer hut ranger is in place at the hut seven day a week. The ranger assists with keeping the facilities clean, checking hut and campsite tickets and interacting with canoeists and visitors on the river.