Girl with suspected meningitis evacuated from bush

Search and rescue volunteers from Turangi trekked through bush early yesterday to evacuate a 16-year-old with suspected meningitis.

The Wellington Girls' College student was on a school trip along the Tongariro River when she became unwell at an overnight campsite.

A helicopter was unable to airlift her out because of bad weather so 12 search and rescue volunteers were called out to take medication to her and stretcher her from the area.

She was met by an ambulance at 5am and taken to Taupo Hospital where she was later discharged after testing negative for meningitis.