Soldiers search

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 498, 10 August 1993, Page 8

Soldiers search

by

jenelle

Frewen

For the third time this year soldiers from Waiouru have been called out to assist in the search and rescue of civilians in this area. Recently almost 200 soldiers and 12 Armoured Troop Carriers were used in the hunt for missing Otaki man, Jonathon Rakia, 27, who went missing on 28 July. A search and rescue headquarters was set up on the Thursday night at the Waiouru Military Camp and by 9am Friday morning 95 soldiers from the Waiouru Training Depot, 44 from the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles and 45 from 16 Field Regiment were sent off to search

designated blocked areas for the missing man. In total the soldiers searched 45 square kilometres of land before finding any tracks. At approximately 3pm sandshoe prints were found in the Karioi Forest by soldiers from WTD and Cpls Wi and Kohi ti, both trained in tracking took up the search. The missing man was found almost three hours later at a stream getting water. The man had tried to evade the searchers by doubling back over an area of ground previously checked and cleared. He was found to be in good condition but was taken firstly to Waiouru Hospital then on to Palmerston North to be examined following the ordeal.