Attributable to Detective Gerhard Jacobs, SAR Incident Controller:
A family walking on Mt Taranaki who were underprepared for the conditions is prompting a reminder from Police to those heading out this long weekend.
Police received a call about 6:30pm last night reporting that a man and two children were overdue returning from the Pouakai Range.
Police Search and Rescue were engaged, as were Land Search and Rescue volunteers, and a Department of Conservation volunteer.
The family were unfamiliar with the area, and underprepared for the cold conditions.
LandSAR volunteers walked four hours through near-freezing temperatures and 50km/h winds, to then escort the family out and to safety.
The trio were all eventually out by around midnight.
Police would like to remind people walking in the outdoors – particularly on the unforgiving Mt Taranaki – that preparation is key, and to know your limits.
In this instance last night, the family had changed their plans without informing anyone, and the man had just 5 per cent battery on his phone as emergency services were attempting to gain their location by it via GPS.
Fortunately, the group made it out safely, however the outcome could have been very different.
This is a reminder to please always take two forms of communication with you when in and around Mt Taranaki, and be prepared to stay out overnight should you be caught out.
If you get into trouble, please call 111 as soon as possible, as this will enable an emergency response at the earliest opportunity.
Police would like to thank Taranaki LandSAR, and the Department of Conservation, for their dedication and response last night in tough conditions.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Team
