An inexperienced and ill-equipped hunter has been found alive and well after spending two nights out in the open near Waiouru.
The
43-year-old man from Cambridge was spotted on Monday and picked up by a
search helicopter, two days after being separated from his two hunting
companions.
The man had headed off to hunt alone and planned to return to their camp later in the day.
He
was an inexperienced hunter and was carrying a small day pack which
included a few muesli bars, said Ruapehu area commander, Inspector Steve
Mastrovich.
His friends alerted a helicopter dropping off a
fishing party and a search involving 40 people was launched before the
helicopter found the man.
"He is in remarkably good health. I'm
surprised at how fit and healthy he seems... he is extremely lucky that
the weather was so good as it is taking a turn for the worse and he was
never going to make it out without assistance."
NZN