A man who went missing in stormy conditions in rugged Westland earlier this week — requiring a 48-hour rescue effort involving five teams — was a "textbook example of what not to do," police said.
The man, who was "relatively new" to the area, left the Hokitika Gorge for an overnight tramp on Saturday and was reported missing when he did not return home on Sunday.
He left no details about where he was headed; had limited tramping experience; and went out despite an Orange Heavy Rain Warning being in place.
Senior Constable Sarah Cook said the area the man was "dynamic" and required a "decent amount" of experience and knowledge, even in moderate conditions.
"There are active slips and tracks can get inundated with water quickly and easily lost, several spots require a riverbed crossing which, in the conditions we were dealing with, is treacherous at best."
Two land search and rescue teams were deployed on Monday, one searching from the man's vehicle and the other at Frew Hut, which police believed was likely his destination.
The helicopter team checked logbooks at other huts.
A fourth team was deployed on Monday evening after no sign was found of the man.
Cook said teams stayed overnight at the huts and plans were made to search the rest of what was thought to be the man's intended route on Tuesday.
"We were also turning our attention to the next phase of the search and what specialist teams and resources we would need, especially if the search turned to recovery."
At midday on Tuesday, a search team located the man in the Omatane Canyon.
The man had spent his first night in Frew Hut but lost the track the following day after crossing a bridge.
He then crossed the Hokitika River, navigating through the Frisco Canyon before spending a wet night under some rocks.
At one stage, he said he had fallen into the Hokitika River after he slipped while traversing the base of a bluff.
Cook said the man was fortunate to be found when he was as he was in no way prepared to survive another night in the elements.
"This is a textbook example of what not to do. He’s underestimated the terrain; had left no clear intention on where he was going; was poorly clothed and equipped — including carrying no personal locator beacon. He was very lucky to be found alive."
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