Hunters rescued overnight in Canterbury

Two hunters were rescued in Canterbury overnight after becoming trapped high up a mountain lightly clad in bad weather.

The men headed into the Peel Forest area yesterday morning.

They were lightly clad and the forecast was for cold and wet weather, Inspector Dave Gaski said.

One of the men called police late in the afternoon realising they were trapped high up on Little Mount Peel, north of Geraldine.

South Canterbury Land Search and Rescue searchers found the men about midnight.

It took three and a half hours to walk the men off the mountain due to the nature of the terrain, Mr Gaski said.

- NZPA