A major rescue operation that winched five injured hikers – one in a critical condition – to safety from Mt Taranaki’s summit took five hours and required several attempts before the group was successfully brought off the mountain.
Acting Sergeant David Bentley, search and rescue incident controller, said all five hikers were lucky to be alive. He praised the complex effort of multiple agencies during the rescue after the party ran into trouble.
Emergency services were called to the mountain at 2.15pm yesterday following reports a hiking group was in trouble, with one person requiring CPR.
On social media, Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust said the hikers ran into trouble after summiting the mountain, with bad weather, strong winds and freezing temperatures hampering their descent.
The Taranaki Rescue helicopter diverted to the maunga while returning from a separate mission. Helicopters from Taupō and Palmerston North and with members of the Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue (TACR) and Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) were also deployed.
Bentley said the hours-long operation required a co-ordinated multi-agency response, with teams from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ), LandSAR, Alpine Cliff Rescue, Civil Defence and several helicopter companies called in to assist.
“Due to the weather conditions, the helicopters called in to assist with rescue efforts were unable to reach the summit of the mountain,” Bentley said.
“Rescue teams on the ground also began to climb up the mountain towards the group.”
The first hiker, who was in a critical condition at the time, was evacuated from the mountain about 6.20pm - four hours after emergency services were first alerted.
Helicopters evacuated the remaining four hikers by 6.50pm.
All five members of the group were taken to hospital by helicopter or ambulance; one in a critical condition, two in serious conditions, and two in moderate conditions.
“The weather improved for a period long enough for us to get helicopters into the area and rescue the climbers,” Bentley said.
“We were in and out very quickly and had it not been for that break in the weather, there was a very good chance we would have been dealing with fatalities.
“We’d also like to thank all the community partner agencies that assisted with this rescue, which if it was not for their swift response, the result could have been tragic.”
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (NZMSC) chief executive Mike Daisley said their “thoughts are with the injured and their families, and we hope for the best outcome and a speedy recovery”.
“We don’t have further information on this incident in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki so we can’t comment on the specifics. However, we know it was a blustery, overcast day with low cloud and showers in the afternoon on Taranaki Maunga,” he said.
While the trail the group had attempted remains unknown, Daisley said the popular Summit Climb “is a serious undertaking that should not be underestimated”.
“While a day hike, it’s both technically and physically difficult, and conditions can change extremely quickly as it is an alpine environment,” he said.
“This is an expert route that is undefined and exposed, involving scrambling over rocks, scree slopes and steep drop-offs.
“Any small mistake can have major consequences. It should only be attempted by experienced trampers with proper equipment and in good weather conditions.”
With New Zealand’s turbulent summer weather, Daisley said it’s vital hikers plan carefully.
This includes monitoring weather, packing for all conditions, carrying a reliable communication device and choosing the right trip for everyone’s abilities.
“It’s never too late to change your plans,” Daisley said.
“The mountains will always be there for another day. The top priority should be making it home safe.”
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.