Lost Japanese tramper found in thick bush
Sunday, 24 March 2019
A hiking company is conducting an internal investigation after a 73-year-old Japanese woman became separated from her group on the Milford Track and got lost in thick bush.
She was later found uninjured.
The woman, who was part of a multi-day guided walk with Ultimate Hikes, was last seen about 1pm on Friday as the group was walking between the McKinnon Pass and Quintin Lodge.
When she failed to arrive at the Quintin Lodge with her group, Ultimate Hikes notified police and track guides searched the track and her last known location without success.
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However, a Southern Lakes Helicopter, piloted by Sir Richard Hayes, found the woman just after midnight using thermal imaging equipment.
She was on the Arthur Valley side of MacKinnon Pass in thick bush.
Not able to be extracted by the helicopter due to the terrain, Ultimate Hikes staff were lowered into the area walked to the uninjured woman at 1am, making her comfortable for the night, police said.
She was flown out of the bush at first light.
'She did the right thing by realising she was lost and hunkering down until help came,' police said.
Police praised the responses of the Ultimate Hikes and Milford Track staff and Southern Lakes Helicopters for locating her.
On Saturday, Ultimate Hikes said the woman was to rejoin her group for dinner at Milford Sound that evening.
Ultimate Hikes, who is conducting an internal investigation, said the woman left the track for as yet unknown reasons.
She was part of a multi-day guided walk with Ultimate Hikes.
The group, accompanied by four guides, was on the third day of a five-day trek, which starts in Te Anau and ends at Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park.
Ultimate Hikes general manager Noel Saxon said he and the team involved in the rescue effort were relieved and pleased the woman was safe and in good spirits.
'As soon as we were aware she was missing we co-ordinated a sweep by track staff and then immediately launched a full search and rescue response.
Timeline
22/23 March
12.45pm - Woman leaves Pass Shelter after a lunch stop with her Ultimate Hikes group and guides
1:00pm - Woman has a conversation with another walker on the track
5.20pm - Guides report to management that the woman has not yet arrived at Quintin Lodge
6.30pm - Ground search is launched. The entire track is covered with main search area between Quintin Lodge and Pass Shelter
6.45pm - Emergency services notified
11.00pm - Te Anau SAR team begins a night time, night-vision search in the Southern Lakes Rescue Helicopter
Midnight - The woman is spotted, but difficult terrain makes a night recovery attempt not safely possible
1.00am - Two Ultimate Hikes guides and General Manager Noel Saxon reach her after being lowered into the area and then hiking through thick bush
9.30 am - Woman airlifted to Te Anau and checked by local doctors
4.00pm - Woman likely to arrive at Milford Sound to rejoin her group.