Rude awakening for campers after emergency beacon set off

File photo / Glenn Taylor

Two weary campers had a rude awakening on Saturday morning with the sound of the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter coming to their aid.

Pilot Martin Shaw responded from Greymouth after the emergency beacon was set off.

"We tracked it to a tent at Fox River (near Punakaiki)."

He landed beside the tent - only to wake up the sleeping campers, who were neither lost nor in distress.

"The beacon was at the bottom of a pack and had malfunctioned and been inadvertently activated," Mr Shaw said.

The bleary-eyed campers turned off the beacon and the helicopter turned back for Greymouth, empty.