Family find man alive off SH2 after 2-day hunt
Aman missing from Tauranga since Christmas Day was found by family scouring the state highway for him, a rescue helicopter spokesman told the Herald.
Gregg Shaw, 67, was last seen in Pa¯pa¯moa on the morning of Christmas Day. He was due to drive to Gisborne but did not arrive.
Police made a public appeal in the effort to find Shaw, who was missing for about 21⁄ days.
2 He was found by family yesterday afternoon after his car had crashed down a 5m bank off State Highway 2, north of Gisborne.
A rescue helicopter airlifted Shaw to hospital.
The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter from Hawke’s Bay responded to the call because the Gisborne-based rescue helicopter was attending another emergency.
“We were sort of next in line to be called,” general manager Ian Wilmot said.
A strong southerly wind meant it was a 28-minute flight for the helicopter to get to the scene from Hastings.
With fire engines and an ambulance already on the road it was easy for the pilot to make out the scene from above, he said, and the helicopter landed on the road nearby.
Firefighters scrambled down the bank and cut the roof off the car to get to him, Wilmot said.
“Then they were able to get the guy out of the car, into the basket. Then
the big strong firemen on the end of the ropes pulled him up to the road.”
Wilmot said they had been told it was family members who were first able to raise the alarm after scouring the road looking for their missing loved one.
Police said Shaw had some injuries “but is okay” and was conscious when he was found. —