By REBECCA DEVINE in Rotorua
Two Auckland hunters found themselves the focus of search and rescue operations in separate incidents in the Central North Island this weekend.
Last night the Rotorua Police's search and rescue unit were alerted of a hunter trapped in steep terrain south east of Rotorua.
The 31-year-old
Aucklander had been hunting deer in the Waimangu area but had ended up in an area between two gorges, in thick undergrowth.
He spent three hours stranded before calling for help. The Rotorua-based Tenon Rescue Helicopter flew to where the man was trapped but could not land. A member of the search and rescue team was long-lined down to the man and the pair were lifted out below the helicopter to farmland.
The man was badly dehydrated and exhausted, but otherwise none the worse for his day out, pilot Barry Vincent said.
Earlier yesterday a 52-year-old from Auckland was reported missing in the Kaweka Forest. He was staying in the Tussock Hut with other hunters but did not return on Saturday night as expected. The other hunters raised the alarm.
The man had just arrived back when search and rescue members arrived. He had hurt his leg after shooting a deer.
