Man and dog walk away from killer plunge in central North Island

A man and his dog were rescued by the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter service yesterday. Photo / Conrad Smith

A man and a dog have walked away from a potentially deadly plunge after falling down a steep ravine and getting trapped near a stream in the central North Island yesterday.

The man was out hunting with three of his dogs, and fell down the steep ravine at Papamanuka Stream, next to the Whakapapa intake road off State Highway 47, about 6pm yesterday, the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter service said.

He was trapped there after his "big fall", the rescue chopper service said.

The man was found by friends during the night, and they were able to lower some warm clothing down to him.

The man was trapped after his "big fall", the rescue chopper service said. Photo / Conrad Smith

The rescue chopper was sent to the scene in the early hours of this morning, and at first light hoisted the man and one of the dogs to safety.

National Park police and Land Search and Rescue were also on the scene.

"Once the man was on the hoist, the helicopter crew static lined him out of the ravine, and held him at a low height over a scrubby clearing while the hoist cable was wound in," the rescue service said. "Effectively holding him about 10ft in the air as the helicopter lowered itself down to him as the cable rewound."

Other than spending a cold night outside, the man was otherwise uninjured, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter service said.

It was believed the other two dogs would be retrieved today.