Snowcats rescue 4WD group
On their third attempt yesterday, rescuers reached 38 people caught in snow during a four-wheel-drive expedition in Central Otago.
Police said the group was moved via snowcats to a point below the snowline, where they were transferred to 4WD vehicles and taken to Roxburgh. All members were reported to be well.
Bleak conditions prevented a second aerial rescue attempt from reaching the group about 11am yesterday, more than 19 hours after they became stranded.
Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust chief executive Graeme Gale said the helicopter came within 2km of the party about 7.30am, and flew ‘‘reasonably close’’ again about 11am, before severe weather forced them back both times.
He said two alpine cliff rescue specialists were dropped a few kilometres from the scene during the second flight. They walked to the group, while the helicopter returned to Alexandra to wait for a break in the weather.
MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said the outlook had not been good for the area, with up to 20cm of snow overnight, but the flurries would have cleared by early today.
The group – including two children – from Invercargill and Winton, were caught out in harsh, wintry conditions on an off-road track at Waikaia Bush Rd above Piano Flat, near Roxburgh.
They were stranded about 1400m above sea level.
Police and the National Rescue Co-ordination Centre were notified about 6.25pm on Sunday after the group, in 13 vehicles, realised that they could not continue because of the inclement weather and vehicle breakdowns.
Photos posted online showed several 4WDs trapped in the blizzard-like conditions.
Those trapped were concerned about depleting fuel stocks as they tried to stay warm inside their vehicles.
The area is notorious for disastrous 4WD expeditions, including the death of a passenger in 2008.