Two Auckland hikers suffered near-hypothermia after getting delayed by atrocious weather while tramping in Coromandel Forest Park.
Waikato police search and rescue have just returned from rescuing the pair after a distressed man, aged in his 30s, made a 111 call that he and his female hiking partner, in her 20s, were cold and wet, likely suffering from hypothermia.
Sergeant Phil Bell said the trampers had intended to complete an overnight walk from Sunday to Monday but were held up in the wet weather.
On Sunday night they made an overnight shelter on the track with a blanket, before heading further towards the hut on Monday.
On Monday afternoon, the two arrived cold and wet at Crosbies Hut but were unable to make a fire to warm themselves up.