Tramper stuck for two nights
A Dutch tourist stranded on Mt Taranaki was later dropped off safely at his car by an Air Force helicopter.
The 29-year-old tramper had been pinned down by heavy snow in the Egmont National Park since Thursday.
On Friday afternoon he was told to bunker down in Syme Hut on Mt Taranaki overnight until weather conditions were better for rescue teams to reach him.
On Saturday morning an Air Force helicopter, with two members of the Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue group on board, managed to get to the man. The NH90 helicopter then dropped him off at his car, parked near Dawson Falls, about 12:30pm.
The helicopter battled through strong winds and a thick layer of cloud to rescue the man who was found in high spirits, Flight Lieutenant Chris Ross said.
‘‘The man was cold and hungry but otherwise fine. He was certainly chuffed to see us and he was able to walk to the aircraft on his own. We gave him a blanket and lollies and turned on the heater as soon as he got on board.’’
The man had planned to spend the day climbing the mountain on Thursday but heavy snow prevented him from getting back down the mountain safely, Ross said.
He spent two nights in freezing conditions at the Department of Conservation cabin located on Fantham’s Peak.
‘‘The tracks are covered in ice and heavy snow, so there was no way he could have got out of there on his own,’’ Ross said.
The Air Force was called in to assist with the rescue because there were no search and rescue helicopters available in the Taranaki area. The Taranaki Rescue Helicopter is out of action for about six weeks after the team announced last week they had found corrosion in the cladding around its transmission during a routine check.
New Plymouth Police constable Craig O’Doherty said police had been in contact with the stranded Dutch tourist, who was fine and had plenty of food to sustain him while waiting for rescue crews.
The man had been caught without the necessary crampons and ice axe, which would be required to get down safely after a fresh layer of snow fell yesterday, O’Doherty said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, police also rescued two people who got lost on the Pouakai track on Friday. The pair were reached at Pouakai Hut on Friday afternoon, and were walked out on Friday evening, a police spokeswoman said.