Mates left stranded climber behind

Mt Taranaki. File photo / NZ Herald

A climber rescued after he got stuck on Mt Taranaki overnight was left at the summit by his mates.

The man and three friends climbed the mountain on Saturday, reaching the summit at 4.30pm.

Senior Sergeant Thomas McIntyre said three of the group decided to descend the mountain soon after but the man wanted to stay longer at the summit.

"Three of the group left him on the summit and returned. They got off the mountain safely and without incident," Mr McIntyre said.

"The male that remained got into trouble when he started down a bit later. He descended down a steep part of the mountain and got lost and stuck. He got to the point where he couldn't go up, down, left or right."

The alarm was raised when the man made contact with his friends at 8.45am yesterday.

Mr McIntyre said "balmy" conditions in New Plymouth in the last few days meant temperatures on the mountain would not have been dangerous.

But, the man was lucky he was not injured or worse.

"Luckily the weather has been kind to us for the last few days and it wouldn't have been too uncomfortable up there for him."

Police worked with the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and a local alpine rescue team to locate the man. The search was hindered due to cloud, and the fact the lost climber was "quite hidden".

"Eventually an alpine rescue members was winched onto the mountain and sat with the man for some time. Another team with the appropriate ropes and equipment managed to get him out of his predicament," Mr McIntyre said.

"He basically walked off the mountain after that."

The climber was heading back to New Plymouth.

Mr McIntyre said there was a valuable lesson to be learned from the incident.

"From these sorts of events there is always something to take away," he said.

"If you go up as a group make sure you come down as a group. It's about safety in numbers."