"Search and rescue and LandSAR help man in Marlborough bush"

Cold, wet, but otherwise uninjured, a Canterbury man was brought out of the bush this morning by a volunteer LandSAR assisted by Police Search and Rescue, after spending a cold and wet night high on Mt Stanley in the outer Marlborough Sounds.

The man was on the way to Mt Stanley, following the Nydia Track, when he became disorientated in low cloud which enveloped the ridge the tramper was walking on yesterday afternoon.

He phoned Police around 4pm as fog set in.

He was disorientated, cold, wet, tired and had minimal warm gear.

The man had a map with him, a survival blanket, and a Personal Locator Beacon, but no compass, and a phone which did not have GPS capability.

Police were able to determine his location thanks to his locater beacon and by texting him.

Search teams entered the track around 7pm last night , staying in touch via text, and reached the man around 2am.

They fed him and ensured he had hot drinks, before beginning to walk him out around 3am once he regained his strength.

Senior Constable Al Hendrickson of Blenheim Police says the LandSAR volunteers did a great job in cold and wet conditions.

“It was slow going getting in there and slow coming out, but credit must go to the LandSAR team, they did a great job.

They put in a great effort through the night and recovered our missing party in an untracked environment, which was a credit to those that went searching for him.

Speaking with the searchers on their return, I know they are all going home for a hot shower and some well-earned sleep."

ENDS

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