Helicopter rescues school party of 35
Published: March 16, 2007
Police have rescued a school party of 35 trapped by rising waters in Mt Aspiring National Park.
Wanaka police search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said he was contacted by the group about 11am, requesting help.
The group - 31 pupils and four parents from Otago Boys High School - had spent the night at the Rock of Ages bivouac in the Kitchener Glacier Area. Most of the pupils were aged 14 or 15.
It rained heavily and they became trapped by rising river levels, with the track they had used to get to the campsite completely covered.
Mr Nicholson said four search and rescue personnel used a helicopter to transport the group from their camping area back to the valley floor, away from the river.
He said a number of the children were affected by the cold and wet conditions and the party made the right decision to call for help.
“At the end of the day we would rather go in early and save a potential tragedy than not respond appropriately and have to deal with a much bigger issue in the long term.”
Mr Nicholson said there was a fine line between people being self-reliant and asking for assistance before they get themselves into a situation they can’t recover from.
After being flown to safety the group went about organising their tramp back to the hut they had come from.
“They were all left safe and well.”
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