Reported missing... but "didn't know I was lost"

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 16, 18 September 1984, Page 4

Reported missing... but "didn't know I was lost"

There I was peacefully watching the 6.30pm news on Saturday 8 September when someone knocked on my front door. "I wonder who that could be," I said to the baby. She could only coo in reply. As I was on my own in the house, I did not feel that it would be wise to open the door until I had ascertained who was there. "Yes, can I help you?" I enquired anxiously. "I'm stranded, I wondered whether I could use your phone," he asked. I was still unconvinced of his sincerity so I asked him who he wanted to phone and what his name was. "My name is Karl van de Water and I want to phone my friend in Waiouru as he left the skifield without me." "I've been hitch-hiking from Ohakune," he added. I decided I would phone the Waiouru number he had given me before I let him in. To my surprise, when I spoke to his friend, he told me that the police were looking for van de Water as he had been reported lost on the mountain. I looked up at Mount Ruapehu and could see several lights, proof indeed that such a search was taking place up there. It was then I decided that perhaps it was time that the stranger came inside to warm up whilst I phoned the police. Upon opening the door, I could see a man standing there, well dressed for the cold conditions, but with no shoes on! "What happened to your shoes?" I asked him. "They are in my friend's car and I don't know where he is," he replied. "Well believe it or not" I said, "they think that you are lost, police are out searching for you on the mountain." "What? I can't believe it" he said. I proceeded to phone the police at Ohakune but there was no reply.

I then rang through to the operator, explained the situation whilst bemoaning the loss of the manual exchange. She agreed with me before connecting me with th^ Wanganui Police Headquarters. They were somewhat surprised at my story but promised to inform the Ohakune police by radio telephone that I had the missing person in my lounge. "Would you like a cup of tea?" I enquired. "I sure would," he quickly replied. We then sat down and I asked him what had happened. Apparently, it was the first time van de Water, aged 28, from Henderson in Auckland, had skied. "I had arrived at the skifield with my friends and we arranged to meet at the

end of the day in the carpark." "I got there at 5pm and wandered around for about half an hotir looking for them. Although we hadn't arranged a time to meet, I assumed that because the skifield closed at four o'clock, that they would come down then." Van de Water then started walking down the Mountain Road towards Ohakune and was picked up along the way by two Australians. Once in Ohakune, van de Water returned his hired'ski gear which included ski boots. "It was silly of me not to go to the Ranger Station I guess," he told me later "but I honestly did not think I was lost." He managed to hitch a lift as far as Rangataua, from there he walked to my place at Ohutu Grazing. Tired and feeling sorry for himself, he saw a welcoming light in my lounge.

When Constable Brian Entwisle arrived, he told us that the ski patrol had gone to the top of the mountain and had scanned the area for van de Water. The National Park Rangers had also assisted in the search. Fortunately, the search had not developed to the point where a helicopter needed to be called out, but it had still been a costly exercise. Van de Water was heard to remark afterwards, that he was also unlucky in that he had turned up at a reporter's house of all places!

Mary Arine

Gill