Rescue Operation Finds Four Troubled Homeless People in Ruahine Ranges

Rescuers have found four homeless people who landed in trouble in a rugged bushland area of ​​the North Island.

The four homeless men were airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital after the rescue operation Sunday afternoon.

The Hawke’s Bay rescue helicopter flew into the Ruahine Ranges after a personal locator beacon was activated around 1 p.m. Sunday.

The Rescue Coordination Center of New Zealand (RCCNZ) was coordinating the response.

“It was hailing when the rescue helicopter picked them up,” said an RCCNZ spokeswoman.

The homeless had symptoms of hypothermia.

A police spokeswoman said initial reports indicated that a “party” might be missing or in need of help at Ruahine Forest Park.

The park straddles the boundary of Hawke’s Bay and Manawatū-Whanganui.

According to the DoC, the forest park covers almost 100 km from the Taruarau River in the north to the Manawatū Gorge in the south.

The RCCNZ is in charge of ground missions that arise when someone lights a distress beacon.