Investigation after paragliders rescued

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

An investigation has been launched after two Australian paragliders were plucked to safety from a mountain ridge on Tuesday.

The tourists called emergency services on a cellphone to report they were lost on an unidentified mountain in deteriorating weather about 7pm.

Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters managing director and pilot Dave Kershaw located the men on the ridge line of the northern face of Mt Soho at an altitude of 1200m at 8pm.

Three staff from the Fly Paragliding company, who had been searching for the tourists, were also rescued.

The incident has sparked an investigation by the Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Southland Times reported.

Under CAA rules, paragliders must be association members to fly in New Zealand.

Association regional safety officer Dominic Eller said Fly Paragliding staff had been interviewed, but would not reveal specifics other than to say the incident was about "conditions versus machine".

Information gathered would be referred to the association's national team and the CAA, he said.

Mr Kershaw said the paragliders were ill-equipped for a cold night on the mountain.

- NZPA

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week

Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week

Pay just

$15.75

$2

per week ongoing

Subscribe now

BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just

$449

$49

per year ongoing

Subscribe now

Learn more

30