Australia is assisting efforts in the Solomon Islands to rescue two Kiwi men stranded in a remote part of the country for days after their route from its highest mountain was cut off.
Keanu Isaksson, 25, and Luca Zylstra-Law, 19, both from Matakana, north of Auckland, became trapped during an expedition on Mt Popamanaseu — the highest peak of the Solomon Islands, which stood at 2335m.
Their families said the two friends had become stranded in a remote ravine after torrential rain, flooding and landslides made their planned exit impossible.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed the involvement.
"The Australian Government has provided assistance to support the Solomon Islands Government's efforts to rescue New Zealand hikers stranded on Guadalcanal," the spokesperson said.
"The Australian Government remains in close contact with the Governments of New Zealand and Solomon Islands regarding the situation."
The mothers of two Matakana men trapped on the Solomon Islands' highest peak say time is running out, with worsening weather, rockfall risks and no clear rescue plan. (Source: Breakfast)
Isaksson's mother Deni Holl, speaking on Breakfast, said the men were coping in tough conditions but needed help urgently.
"Knowing our two boys, they'll be doing pretty okay. They're both in pretty good spirits," she said.
"All we can do is keep telling them to stay strong, and that's what they're doing."
Holl said the weather was not expected to clear for another week, and even then the men would need the ground to harden and rivers to drop before they could attempt to get themselves out.
"The rivers have to drop before the boys could even look at getting themselves out, if that's a possibility," she said.
"Our communication with them is very intermittent, and we can only communicate in a sentence."
Zylstra-Law's mother Tanja Zylstra said the pair still had some food but were focused on staying safe.
"We know they have some food still, and I think it's just trying to keep safe from the rising rivers and from rock fall coming down," she said.
The families said New Zealand police based in the Solomon Islands had told them rescuers lacked the equipment and the right helicopter to reach the men in the current conditions.
Holl said she felt New Zealand had the manpower and facilities to act, and pointed to Australia's regular flights into the Solomon Islands as evidence that a rescue was possible.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a cold snap closes roads, mothers plead for help to save stranded sons, and Ariana Grande’s big decision. (Source: 1News)
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