Three young men were rescued after being stranded in a gorge overnight. Photo / NZ Police
Three young men were rescued after being stranded in a gorge overnight. Photo / NZ Police
A sliver of cellphone reception led to the dramatic rescue of three young men who spent a cold, wet night stranded in a gorge while floating in river tubes.
Police said the trio intended to float down the Hutt River in the Kaitoke Regional Park, but their planning wasflawed, and they were unprepared for worsening weather.
Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp said the group set off late in the day yesterday in their inner tubes before encountering trouble.
Westrupp said the group were wearing light clothing and soon found themselves in a dangerous situation with darkness descending and impassable cliffs on both sides of the river.
“They happened to be able to get a glimmer of cellphone reception and called for assistance about 7.30pm,” Westrupp said.
He said police co-ordinated a search and rescue operation to rescue them as the weather worsened.
“A New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter was sent, but it couldn’t get to them because of low cloud and rain setting in.
“Land Search and Rescue and police reached the three men about three in the morning and provided them with shelter, clothing and food. At first light, with the aid of Wellington Rafting, we were able to get them out of there,” he said.
Westrupp said the men were grateful to see rescuers, but it was an uncomfortably close call.
“They were on the verge of not being able to contact anyone. If they hadn’t managed to find a scrap of cellphone coverage in the gorge it could have been a very different Christmas for them and their families,” he said.
Westrupp advised Kiwis who are planning to go out on an excursion in the bush or adventure on rivers to be prepared for any eventuality.
“PLBs (personal locator beacons) are cheap to hire, and they’re capable of saving your life, even when there’s no cellphone reception,” he said.
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