Thread: Search And Rescue

Another successful mission by the team in our rugged Ruahines.

I can't understand why the party never noticed him missing till the road end,we were taught to watch out for tail end Charlie.


Heres the report:

On 4 July 2013 a 76 yr old local man went for a day walk in the lower
Ruahines near Dannevirke with a tramping club.

After reaching their hut destination they started to make their way back to
the roadend.

The man had gone ahead alone and when about halfway back lost the track. He
became disoriented and could not find his way back to it.

Realising he was lost he remained where he was and called out to his
companions without success.

The main group did not realise the man was missing until they had returned to
the roadend.

Search and Rescue were called while a small group returned to look for the
man.

The Palmerston North rescue helicopter was dispatched arriving on scene just
after nightfall.

The man was quickly located by night vision goggles and attempts were made to
direct his companions to his location.

Unfortunately the helicopter had to leave the area due to deteriorating
weather and the man’s companions were not able to make contact.

While they walked out Search and Rescue members from Tararua and Palmerston
North were called out, arriving in the area at about 10pm.

The weather had cleared by this time allowing the helicopter to return to the
area where the crew again quickly located the man and were able to direct the
search teams to his location.

The man was found in good health and was walked out.

He had good clothing for a day walk but no overnight gear. He had a compass
with him but only a Park Map instead of a Topographical one. He had no means
of communication other than a whistle. His only light source was a pen-light
torch which although not very helpful for navigating through bush was readily
able to be seen through night vision goggles.

This is a good example of why people should be prepared for the worst
whenever they venture into the outdoors. One must be fully geared up and
prepared to spend a night out in the bush even if only a day trip was
planned.

People should not wander off from their party by themselves and should carry
adequate means of communication, either a Personal Locator Beacon, a Mountain
Radio or as a last resort a cellphone if they are lucky enough to have
coverage in their area.

Couldnt the heli crew mark the spot via gps and send the ground team the co ords? Good to see old.g ys in the bush still.

My understanding from the report Dundee is he went ahead of the group so they expected to meet up with him at the road end?

The man had gone ahead alone and when about halfway back lost the track. He
became disoriented and could not find his way back to it

Originally Posted by Nibblet

My understanding from the report Dundee is he went ahead of the group so they expected to meet up with him at the road end?

You are correct Nibblet,at least hes home now

Dundee he was lead scout not tail end charlie. 76 and ahead of the party. Bloody good on him. I intend to be still out there at that age but hope to never cause LandSAR to have to come looking for me.

well at least it had a happy ending... sometimes it doesn't as we all know. I reckon carry a beacon. they are getting smaller and smaller, and less expensive now. but use it wisely which most people do, not just because you are tired and cant be fagged to hoof it back.

A good conclusion - SAR are some of the unsung heroes of this country

As usual, in every group of people there is one that wants to do things different...I hope the silly ol' prick learnt a lesson from his being different to the others...nothing like a cold arse night in the bush to adjust one's mental state of mind...maybe next time they will use the "walking school bus" method.

They have a few down in VC's land too

In a separate incident, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter was called to a hunter who had become injured near Takaka in heavy bush about 1am today (Sat).

The man, who was hunting with a companion, had slipped on the terrain and injured his shoulder, a rescue helicopter spokesperson said.

The pair attempted to make their way out however became slightly disoriented in the dark and called for help.

The helicopter used specialist night vision goggles and a thermal imaging camera to find the men.

Both were safely winched aboard the helicopter and the injured man was taken to Nelson Hospital, the spokesperson said.

LandSAR do bloody good work Dundee.

Originally Posted by Rushy

LandSAR do bloody good work Dundee.

Absolutely Rushy, I have been involved in a few, the locals were talking about the old fulla in the Ruahines and if they got the local guys that know the area there would of been no search and rescue as we would of found him before the chopper was neaded

Highly likely but the coordination would probably be a bit less.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Highly likely but the coordination would probably be a bit less.

Yep rushy your right the two guys who would have gone up for him would of pulled up in there utes and said you take left ill take right see you at the junction..................,just a bit quicker but all could of been avoided with some basic planning ppppp's.The old timer is safe and sound now and might keep to tramping around the botanical gardens from now on

Another mission up there

Title: Search underway for missing trampers

A Police search and rescue operation is underway in the Ngamoko Range (in the
Ruahine Ranges) after a group of trampers activated their emergency locator
beacon yesterday (Sunday, 7 July) morning.

Police were notified of the beacon activation by the Rescue Coordination
Centre and took over the search operation yesterday evening for the group of
five trampers who are believed to be members of the New Plymouth Tramping
Club.

Search Coordinator Sergeant Bill Nicholson says: "We deployed a team
yesterday evening but the high winds and rain made the search difficult. We
have re-deployed teams at first light today and we believe that the group may
be near the Puriri stream as this is where the beacon is polling from."

The group of five aged between 30-63, are believed to be experienced
trampers, however with the inclement weather and difficult location, shelter
may be an issue.

"The three search teams deployed today are made up of LANDSAR volunteers and
they are currently honing in on the beacon's signal," says Sergeant
Nicholson.

Originally Posted by Dundee

Another mission up there

Title: Search underway for missing trampers

A Police search and rescue operation is underway in the Ngamoko Range (in the
Ruahine Ranges) after a group of trampers activated their emergency locator
beacon yesterday (Sunday, 7 July) morning.

Police were notified of the beacon activation by the Rescue Coordination
Centre and took over the search operation yesterday evening for the group of
five trampers who are believed to be members of the New Plymouth Tramping
Club.

Search Coordinator Sergeant Bill Nicholson says: "We deployed a team
yesterday evening but the high winds and rain made the search difficult. We
have re-deployed teams at first light today and we believe that the group may
be near the Puriri stream as this is where the beacon is polling from."

The group of five aged between 30-63, are believed to be experienced
trampers, however with the inclement weather and difficult location, shelter
may be an issue.

"The three search teams deployed today are made up of LANDSAR volunteers and
they are currently honing in on the beacon's signal," says Sergeant
Nicholson.

Do you remember what I said to you in the car as we left my house?.