The Royal New Zealand Air Force deployed a helicopter to rescue a freezing tramper and his dog in the Tararua Ranges north of Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Supplied
A personal locator beacon has helped a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog be rescued from freezing conditions in the Tararua Ranges.
On Monday Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his Kelpie Winnie were on the second night of a tramp heading toward the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in, with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres.
Graham said he was following a planned route, but the track to the hut was overgrown.
"After a couple of hours I realised that I wasn't making fast enough progress."
Graham said he decided to pack up and get warm and have another go at the track in the morning.
He said he set up against a rock face to try get some protection from the elements.
"As it happened it also had some some icicles hanging off it," he said, which he used to make a cup of boiled water.
"You wouldn't believe how good that tastes when you need it."
By 9pm the cloud had lifted, bringing dew down and freezing Graham's sleeping bag.
"At that point, when the dog started shaking, I realised that it was going to be a lot more difficult to be there than I initially thought."
He then called emergency services and also set off his personal locator beacon.
Winnie was winched out first by the helicopter crew. Photo: RNZ / Supplied
A Defence Force spokesperson said it was decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am Graham contacted police again concerned about his health should forecasted rain set in.
An NH90 helicopter from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base in Ohakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am on Tuesday.
"The next thing I heard, it was about 4.30am, the chopper coming through," Graham said.
Graham and his dog were winched into the chopper.
"They took Winnie up first, which was lovely. They were very thoughtful and brought a specific bag for the dog," he said.
But he suspected the dog did not enjoy the helicopter ride as much as he did.
"As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life. They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front."
For medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh, it was his first time winching in a search and rescue mission after gaining his qualification a week earlier.
No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart said Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him, as it had meant they were able to fly almost directly to him.
"When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily," Stewart said.
Stewart said the terrain was steep with bluffs directly below where Graham was with thick low cloud sitting on the eastern side of the ranges.
"The temperature was pretty much on freezing - it was 0.5 degrees Celsius when we were up there where he was."
After landing, Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet.
Graham said he was incredibly grateful to everyone who was involved in the rescue.
"I really appreciated all the expertise from everyone. I can't imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am."
Graham is now back home with his wife and one-year-old son.
Winnie has also recovered from the ordeal.
"She slept most of yesterday and then went and dropped the ball at my feet this morning before I left for work. So her priorities remain chasing the ball and and going tramping."
Graham said he would look to attempt the track again in the future, but would first be putting his hand up to help clear it.
He advised anyone going into the mountains to make sure they had the right gear and were well prepared.
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