A heartfelt thank-you came in the form of bacon and egg pie and hugs for the Katikati volunteer firefighters who tramped for nearly an hour to rescue an elderly tramper.
Tauranga resident Jean Crabtree, 85, became crippled by cramps during a day tramp in the Woodland Rd area, near Katikati, on Thursday.
Eight volunteer firefighters raced through the bush for almost an hour to carry her to safety.
"They were so caring, the terrain was so difficult, the sweat was just pouring off them. Not only had they just raced up the mountain side for an hour but then they had to go back down again on a narrow track," she said.
"It was just amazing what they did."