A Search and Rescue Operation was commenced yesterday afternoon after Police were contacted by a 34 year old women who had become lost on Mt Taranaki while traversing the summit.
Overnight Search and Rescue Teams were deployed onto the mountain and contact was able to be made with the missing women both by text message and late last night via voice appeal but the teams could not reach her.
At about 9.40 am this morning she was located by the Taranaki Rescue Trust Helicopter which had joined the search and has been airlifted off the mountain and taken to the Taranaki Base Hospital with suspected mild hypothermia.
At the height of the operation there were 30 Police and Search and Rescue volunteers involved in the search.
It is a timely reminder to us all that Mount Taranaki can be a dangerous environment with very changeable weather and those tramping or climbing on the mountain must ensure that they are correctly equipped with both adequate clothing and safety equipment for the environment and that they advise others of their intentions, which was the case in this instance.
Keith Borrell
Inspector
Area Commander
Taranaki