A search and rescue operation in the Eastern District brought home a woman and her three children after they encountered difficulties while hiking over the weekend.
Around 5.45pm on Sunday, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) received a notification from a satellite emergency notification device (SEND), similar to a personal locator beacon (PLB), from within Kaweka Forest Park.
RCCNZ coordinated an operation to find them, supported by Police Search and Rescue (SAR), and Land, Search and Rescue (LandSAR) Hawke’s Bay.
The woman and her three young children had been walking to Te Puia Hut, located approximately 7.5 kilometres east of Mangatutu Hot Springs, when the mother suffered a serious injury on the track and activated her SEND.
RCCNZ tasked Police SAR to coordinate the response and began planning for a potential air evacuation from the remote location, dependent on weather.
The ground response was led by 10 LandSAR volunteers, supported by five Police Search and Rescue field members.
A LandSAR hasty team made contact with the family later that evening and found the injured woman was unable to walk. Fortunately, the three children weren’t hurt.
The hasty team was reinforced by 13 others who assisted with the challenging stretcher evacuation operation.
Due to the terrain and conditions, the family and SAR personnel stayed overnight at Te Puia Hut before being successfully airlifted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) from the area late yesterday afternoon.
This successful rescue was made possible through the combined efforts and support of all agencies involved.
Police would like to warmly acknowledge LandSAR, RCCNZ, NZDF and the Hawke’s Bay and Taupō Rescue Helicopter crews.
Police commend the family’s decision to carry a SEND, which was integral in finding them.
We always recommend that you carry the appropriate emergency equipment such as a SEND or PLB and a satellite communication device no matter how long or short a hiking trip may be. Mobile phones don’t always have service in remote areas.
Police recommend all beacons be registered at https://www.beacons.org.nz/
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre