Search team called to lost tramper
A Marlborough rescue team was called to a search of its own while preparing to join the search for two missing trampers in Golden Bay.
A police spokeswoman said they were notified of a lost tramper on Mt Stokes, the highest peak in the Marlborough Sounds, about 8pm on Friday.
Marlborough Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) received the call when they were already at the Blenheim Police Station, preparing to join the search for Dion Reynolds and Jessica O’Connor, both 23, who failed to return from a tramp in Kahurangi National Park.
Marlborough LandSAR chairman Peter Hamill said the lost tramper had used his mobile phone to contact police, so they were able to track his GPS location.
The lost tramper, a Malaysian national, had got off the track and was struggling to find his way out. He then stayed put to await rescue, Hamill said.
They called in different volunteers to those who were preparing for Golden Bay, and set out on the two-hour drive along the winding, narrow Kenepuru Rd.
‘‘We always have to have a team based here, we can’t send all of our guys over there, just in case a search happens,’’ Hamill said.
‘‘Lo and behold, it did happen.’’
The rescue team found the man about midnight. He was cold and said it had been a ‘‘long six hours’’, Hamill said.
‘‘He wasn’t very far off the track. He did exactly the right thing. Call early, don’t stagger around and get more lost.’’
The man had been in New Zealand for about nine months. It was his third day in the South Island, Hamill said.
They reached the bottom of the mountain about 1.30am and the volunteer team made it home about 4am.
Eight other LandSAR volunteers from Marlborough went to Golden Bay yesterday morning to join the search for Reynolds and O’Connor, who have been missing since May 9.
They joined search parties of volunteers, police, the Defence Force and Fire and Emergency NZ.