Trampers rescued 700m from hut

A couple were rescued by helicopter from a ridge on Mt Robert after spending several hours in the cold.

Police received a call from the couple, who were tramping to Angelus Hut in Nelson Lakes National Park, around 8.30pm on Saturday after they failed to make it to the hut and found themselves stuck on a snowy ridge in the darkness.

They were located around midnight by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter. Both were feeling the cold, but otherwise were in good health.

Sergeant Steve Savage of Nelson police said that although the couple were only about 700 metres from the hut, they were unable to continue, as they had insufficient gear for the alpine environment.

He said it was a route where conditions could change from being hot and sunny to strong winds, snow or rain with subzero temperatures in an hour.

There have been two fatalities in the area over recent years, as well as numerous rescues.

Chien Han Chee, 25, was found dead on the Mt Robert ridgeline on July 15, 2018. At his inquest last year, Coroner David Robinson found that Chee had died of hypothermia. A Mountain Safety Council (MSC) review found that while Chee was prepared for tramping in summer weather, he was not adequately equipped for the conditions he experienced.

After the hearing, NZ Mountain Safety Council operations manager Nathan Watson said it had previously identified access to Angelus Hut, particularly via Robert Ridge, as being one of the most dangerous locations in the country for tramping incidents.

Between 2010 and 2019, 45 people were involved in Search and Rescue (SAR) callouts in the area, and there were two fatalities, which amounted to an incident rate of one in 700 trampers requiring SAR assistance.

Savage said trampers using the route were encouraged to be prepared, and to take sufficient clothing and equipment for an unplanned overnight stay.

Police also advised all trampers and outdoor users to make torches, emergency shelter and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) a must.