Woman alerts searchers with flash
February 29th, 2008, 8:06 pm Hobbies News
Constable James Ure, of Te Anau, said the woman, who was camping at north Mavora Lake, went for a walk about 6pm on Thursday and failed to return.
The woman had walked to above the bushline and became disorientated when she tried to make her way back, Mr Ure said.
The alarm was raised by her travel companion, another Swedish woman, who borrowed a cellphone and called emergency services from the road about 1am.
Mr Ure said he, a Department of Conservation ranger and two trampers who had just came out of the bush, mobilised for a quick search of the area on foot about 8am.
%26quot;During the night a couple of campervans spotted like a strobe light up in the bush %26mdash; she used the flash of her camera, apparently %26mdash; it gave us a good idea of where she was when we started searching for her.%26quot; The woman was found after she answered to him calling her name about 11am, Mr Ure said.
The woman was none the worse for wear for her ordeal, he said.
%26quot; She was fit and well but wet and cold.%26quot; The woman had stayed put at the edge of the bushline overnight before trying again to walk out in the morning. She stumbled into a creek system about 15 minutes into her walk and become stuck on a bluff, he said.
%26quot;She only had smooth sneakers on and lost all confidence in her ability to move on the slopes.%26quot; The woman was reunited with her travel companion shortly afterwards and the pair planned to move on to Queenstown last night.
Meanwhile, Alexandra police were looking for a 60-year-old Balclutha man who was reported missing in the Central Otago town yesterday.
David Watt was last seen about 10am near the Alexandra Holiday Park.
Mr Watt suffers from a medical condition and could be confused as to where he was or where he should be, police said.
He is described as: Male, European, aged 60 years, about 165cm tall and of slight build. He has unkempt brown hair and a brown beard that is greying. He was wearing a blue sunhat, yellow wraparound sunglasses, blue polar fleece jacket, tan/ brown trousers and grey sport shoes. Any sightings should be reported to police.
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