Liam Mcpherson, 28, survived three nights and three days lost in the Kaimai Range. Photo / George Novak
A Te Aroha man who survived three nights lost in the bush considers himself "bloody lucky" to be alive. Sam Olley finds out how a sleeping bag, a can of baked beans and the hope of homemade burgers kept him going.
Liam Mcpherson, 28, doubts he would have survived anothernight in the Kaimai Range.
He was found on the Waipapa Track by two cyclists just hours before wind and rain rolled in on Saturday evening.
Police, Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) and canyon rescue teams searched for more than 1780 hours collectively after Mcpherson was reported missing last Thursday.
On Wednesday, he planned to walk for up to an hour at nearby Mt Te Aroha, as permitted under Covid-19 alert level 3.
"I just went for a small walk, I thought I was on my way back down again but I ended up going toward Waihī/Katikati without realising. It became dark and my phone went dead."
He now knows he should have stayed put, but "when you hit the panic button and you've got no phone, home is all you can think about", he said.
Acting Eastern Waikato Area Commander Matt Cranshaw said Mcpherson's rescue was "a great result".
"We were rapt he was found alive ... There is a lot of planning involved, fundraising and training and a lot of volunteer work that goes on so we can do searches like this."
LandSAR chief executive Carl McOnie said "we should all be proud" of the volunteers who helped from Te Aroha, Paeroa, Waihī, Thames, Kuaotunu, Hamilton, Tairua/Pauanui and the canyon rescue team.
"This is why we leave our bubble - get up and leave our friends and families - to assist the lost, missing and injured."
A spokesperson for Mcpherson's wider family said they were "absolutely so grateful that he was safe and alive".
"We will be eternally grateful for all of the rescuers and we will never forget their efforts."