Hunters 'lucky to survive'

Two hunters, one suffering hypothermia, are lucky to have survived atrocious conditions in the bush near Rotorua yesterday, say police.

The two men, aged 54 and 21, called police about 6.30am to say they were lost on Mt Tarawera and the younger man was suffering from hypothermia, said Detective Sergeant John Wilson of Rotorua police.

Rotorua police search and rescue staff spent the day searching for the pair before they were found south of the summit about 3pm and brought off the mountain just after 5pm.

"They were extremely fortunate to have not perished in the extreme weather."