By 3 News online staff
Police are warning people to be prepared when boating after a wet cellphone meant two canoeists were stranded for more than four hours on a river near Rotorua.
The couple, aged in their 60s, intended to canoe down the Rangitaiki River to the Aniwhenua Dam near Murupara on Monday, but their canoe tipped over and they lost their paddle in an area of the river where high scrub meant they couldn’t get out.
The person who dropped the couple off at the start of the trip alerted Rotorua Police about the missing pair around 6pm.
Detective Sergeant John Wilson says a helicopter searched the river from Murupara to Lake Aniwhenua until dark when a raft took over.
Police search and rescue staff found the canoeists at 10.30pm.
They had made a makeshift shelter, expecting to spend the night there.
“Needless to say they were very relieved to see help arrive,” Mr Wilson said
He said the wet cellphone made it much harder to find the couple and urged people to take two forms of communication when boating.
However, they had been able to alert a friend with the cellphone before it got wet.
“This serves as another reminder that abiding by some simple rules around safe use of the outdoors can prevent mishaps from occurring, or at least make them less likely to happen,” Mr Wilson said.
Boating safety:
- Always take and wear life jackets.
- Skipper responsibility - keep everyone safe and know your and your vessel's limits.
- Take at least 2 separate forms of communication.
- Always check the weather.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Learn to swim and use the correct equipment
- Watch out for yourself and others.
- Be aware of dangers - obey all signage and warnings.
- Know your limits.
3 News