Helicopter lifts 39 to safety

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 11, 6 August 1985, Page 1

Helicopter lifts 39 to safety

Thirty-five Auckland school children and four adults were lifted to safety by helicopter on Thursday after running into trouble on a tramping trip in Tongariro National Park.

T wo of the fourth formers were treated in Taumarunui Hospital for exposure after being rescued from the park. The school party had set off from Whakapapa Village on Wednesday in cold and wet weather on what was intended as a five hour tramp up the Whakapapaiti Valley and back to the Bruce Road. But by the time the group arrived at the Whakapapaiti Hut some of the youngsters were showing signs of hypothermia. "One girl lost her shoes on the way and was walking through the snow barefoot," said park ranger, Mr Norm Watson. "They certainly weren't prepared for the conditions that they experienced," he added. The youngsters spent Wednesday night in the hut, with several of the boys chopping wood "well into the night" to fuel the fire and help warm the hut. Two park rangers took first aid equipment, pressure stoves and supplies to the hut on Wednesday night after one of the teachers had walked to park headquarters to raise the alarm. The rangers determined that ten of the youngsters %would not have been able to waik out from the hut and a rescue helicopter was called in from Taupo. A Helicopter Services New Zealand Ltd Aerospa-

tiale Squirrel 'copter was flown into the park by John Funnell to carry out the rescue. Mr Funnell ferried all 35 youngsters and 4 adults back to park headquarters. By Thursday evening all the pupils were reported to be fit and well having completed their recovery at the Tauwera Camp. College staff said all the pupils had been wearing parkas, over-trousers, jerseys, hats and gloves. They also had had spare clothing with them. The decision to shelter in the hut for the night had been more due to the weather conditions than the overall condition of the pupils, they said. After the airlift to safety was over police constable Mike Lockett of National Park said, "what the group did was the best possible course of action under the circumstances."