Carterton teen well and back on course

STABLE: Outward Bound hiker Dacia Goble, 17, of Carterton, was airlifted to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim after falling ill while tramping on Mt Riley on Sunday. PHOTO/FILE

A Carterton teenager was airlifted to hospital early yesterday after falling ill while tramping with an Outward Bound group in the South Island.

Outward Bound spokeswoman Lisa Joe said Dacia Goble, 17, and another 17-year-old female tramper were airlifted to Wairau Hospital yesterday morning.

Ms Joe said an instructor and group of 14 teens had set out for a three-day tramp on Mt Riley, west of Blenheim, when Ms Goble "suddenly fell ill" during the hike. The other tramper, from Gisborne, reportedly became cold and exhausted.

"It was decided to abandon the tramp but weather conditions weren't good on Sunday and were too poor for a successful airlift," Ms Joe said.

"Dacia stabilised overnight Sunday and at first light [yesterday] both girls were airlifted to Wairau Hospital."

Rob MacLean, Outward Bound School director, said Ms Goble was listed as stable and had been kept in hospital yesterday for further assessment before being discharged.

She has returned to the Outward Bound school to complete the outdoor adventure course. The other airlifted tramper had earlier returned to the course.

The pair were part of the Outward Bound Mind, Body and Soul classic course, which runs for three weeks.

The other 12 students on the course had descended Mt Riley by foot and were accompanied by three Outward Bound instructors back to the school in Anakiwa.

The parents of Ms Goble and the parents of the other airlifted tramper had been told about the incident, Mr MacLean said.