Man who fell ill on Tararua Range reportedly ill-prepared for dangerously low temperatures

Thursday, 29 March 2018

A Wellington man who had to be rescued after falling ill while walking in the Tararua Range had previously competed there in running events, but was reportedly under-prepared to complete the walk.

The man, believed to be in his 60s, started stumbling and talking non-sensically after becoming hypothermic while crossing the range with a friend on Sunday, the friend's mother, Jennifer Hannon, said.

The workmates had set off on a day walk but the weather in the mountains near Kime Hut was dangerously cold and wet, with the wind chill factor dropping to freezing levels. 

Hannon said her son, 27-year-old Thomas, noticed the man's health had turned when his speech started to become incoherent.

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Thomas had spent 18 months as a hunting guide in The Yukon in northwest Canada and had suitable clothing to endure the freezing temperatures, but his friend was equipped only with items such as a thermal and a raincoat, Hannon said.

The man had previously competed in the 35km Tararua Mountain Race, which follows the Southern Crossing and is for experienced runners.

'I guess he'd become equipped to the sort of gear you'd use if you were to run it, and usually in better weather,' Hannon said.

'I don't think when he got up there he realised how cold it could get.'

When the pair reached Kime Hut, a group of five fellow trampers were already there, and they helped to remove the man's wet clothes and put him in a sleeping bag.

But it soon became apparent the man was in bad shape, Hannon said.

'They gave him some tea and chocolates but he threw that up.

'That was when Thomas thought, 'He's not in a good way, I need to use the beacon'.'

Maritime New Zealand tracked the beacon to Thomas, who had registered it in Australia before leaving the country to live in New Zealand.

It took a Land Search and Rescue [LandSar] team seven hours to reach the hut by foot because conditions were too difficult to get their helicopter any closer.

Once the crew arrived, at 3am on Monday, the man was tended to and helped to Field Hut, lower down the range, where he was picked up by a Philips Search and Rescue Trust helicopter from Palmerston North.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) senior search and rescue officer Mike Roberts said the trampers at Kime Hut had saved the man's life.

The man stayed in hospital overnight and was put on a drip, Hannon said.

Both men were a 'bit shaken' after the ordeal but were now fine.

Hannon said Thomas was always well-prepared when out trekking.

'He took an emergency beacon on a day walk. That shows what kind of person he is.'