A brief patch of cellphone reception helped save three young men after they became stranded overnight in a gorge while floating down the Hutt River in the Wellington region.
Police say the trio set out late on Monday afternoon intending to travel the river through Kaitoke Regional Park on inner tubes, but their planning quickly unravelled. Dressed only in light clothing, they found themselves trapped as darkness fell, with steep, impassable cliffs on either side of the river.
Wellington District Search and Rescue coordinator Sergeant Jonathan Westrupp said the men were able to find a small pocket of cellphone coverage and called for help about 7.30pm.
Police coordinated a search and rescue response as conditions deteriorated, with rain and low cloud moving in. A New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter was deployed but was unable to reach the group due to poor weather.
Land Search and Rescue teams and police eventually reached the men at around 3am, providing shelter, warm clothing and food. At first light, with assistance from Wellington Rafting, the trio were safely escorted out of the gorge.
Westrupp said the men were relieved to see rescuers, describing the situation as a close call. He urged anyone heading into the bush or onto rivers like the Hutt River to properly prepare, noting that hiring a personal locator beacon could be lifesaving when cellphone coverage fails.
