A Hawke’s Bay school student missing overnight from a school hike has been found in forested terrain near a popular track after yelling “help me, help me”, as an Air Force helicopter crew spotted his movements.
The missing 17-year-old boy, from Taradale High School, was found alive just after 1.30pm today, his father, who asked not to be named, told a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter at the scene.
A search and rescue operation began 18 hours earlier after the teenager was reported missing in the Ruahine Forest Park on a hiking trip to Sunrise Hut.
He was spotted in the forest by an Air Force helicopter crew and winched to safety before being flown to the search base at the bottom of the Sunrise Track.
The boy’s father said the teen was now being taken to hospital for checks, but was conscious and appeared relatively well.
His relieved family and principal were on hand when he returned to the search base, with “hugs all around” from his relatives.
It’s understood the boy suffered a head knock after a fall in the bush yesterday and told his rescuers he was unconscious for a period.
He then failed to make a meeting point before a search was launched.
A reporter described the scene today among rescuers and previously worried onlookers as “jubilant”.
The boy’s father said he wanted to give a “huge thank you” to all those involved in bringing his son out safely, including police, Taradale High School and its leadership team, and the search team, including the helicopter crew who rescued him.
He said the family received a call from the school on Tuesday evening.
“We got the phone call from the teachers around 6pm that he has not reported to the carpark.
He said they asked the students to come to the carpark around 5-5.30pm, “so they called us and requested his number”.
“At that time the phone was ringing” but after 30-35 minutes, “it was going dead, going to voicemail”.
He said it was “great news” when he was informed they’d found his son.
His son had given him some insight into the moment he was found by the Air Force.
“He saw the helicopter and [yelled] ‘help me, help me’,” the dad said.
“He said he was grateful the helicopter crew had joined the search, as it would have been difficult to find him otherwise.
“He is okay now.”
A family friend at the scene, who also did not want to be named, said it was good “to have our boy back”.
A Taradale High School spokeswoman said they were “thrilled”.
“We want to say a huge thank you to the police, Land Search and Rescue personnel, our staff and everyone else involved in the search.”
The search: How it unfolded
Napier’s Taradale High School notified parents on Wednesday morning about the missing student.
“Late yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon, a student participating in an overnight outdoor education trip became separated from their group while on a hike,” the Taradale High School email read.
“Police and Land Search and Rescue were notified, and a search operation began yesterday evening.
“Search efforts resumed early this morning and remain ongoing, with police co-ordinating the operation.
“Taradale High School remains focused on supporting the student’s family and school community while police co-ordinate the search.
“The students who were participating in the trip are returning to school.
“Members of the senior leadership team and support staff will be available for students and their families.
“Wellbeing and pastoral support is available for students, staff and whānau and will continue as needed.
“Our focus remains on supporting the student’s family and the wellbeing of our students, staff and school community.
“We thank police, Land Search and Rescue personnel, and everyone involved in the search effort for their ongoing work.”
The school said the school community would be notified of any updates.
A school staff member said the principal was “on site”.
The school said it was focused on its students, staff and whānau, and supporting the student’s family while police co-ordinated the search.
Hawke’s Bay Police area commander Inspector Caroline Martin said asearch and rescue operation began after a teenager was reported missing in the Ruahine Forest Park.
“Around 7.10pm on Tuesday, police were made aware a teenager had separated from their group while on a school tramping trip and was missing.
“Police, alongside Land Search and Rescue volunteers, responded immediately and conducted extensive ground searches in the Sunrise Hut area until the early hours.
“Today, the search continues, with field teams searching the area and the utilisation of specialist equipment and resources.
“We remain in contact with the teenager’s family and the school, and are providing them with regular updates.
“Police are focused on locating the teenager.
“While our search is ongoing, police ask the public to avoid the area to ensure our search efforts are not compromised.”
MetService said weather conditions in the area of the hut, a two- to three-hour hike from the North Block Rd carpark, Wakarara, were good, with warmer overnight temperatures before a cold snap expected from Thursday afternoon.