Story: Search and rescue

Volunteers at work

A large group of people in tramping clothing walk on a steep hill in fog.

A Wellington volunteer search and rescue team carries a tramper suffering from hypothermia to a helicopter landing site in the Tararua Range. The woman became stranded on a ridge in bad weather while tramping alone in January 2005, and texted for help on her cellphone. the SAR team, carrying heavy packs, battled driving rain and gale-force winds to reach her. Weather conditions meant that she could not be airlifted from the mountains for several days.

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Wellington Land Search and Rescue
Photograph by Wayne Stevens

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, 'Search and rescue - Volunteers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13212/volunteers-at-work (accessed 28 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 27 Jul 2023 with assistance from Dan Clearwater