Mount Maunganui hunter unfazed by ordeal

Mount Maunganui hunter Joseph Bishara was found in deep bush on the East Cape after falling unconscious and into a river. PHOTO/GEORGE NOVAK

A missing diabetic Mount Maunganui man drew on all his survival instincts after suffering a head injury after he fell down a ridge while hunting on the East Cape.

Joseph Bishara, 49, had been hunting with friends on Saturday but failed to return to the hut as planned. His companions raised the alarm when there was still no sign of him on Sunday because Mr Bishara, despite being an experienced hunter and former search and rescue volunteer, is diabetic.

Police, Land Search and Rescue teams and the Eastland Community Trust Helicopter scoured the bush inland from Gisborne and Mr Bishara was eventually found sheltering in a farmer's shed.

He was flown to Rotorua Hospital, where he was discharged yesterday. From his Mount Maunganui home yesterday afternoon, Mr Bishara explained how after hunting by himself, he overcame several black outs; falling into the Motu River; cold and wet weather; and serious disorientation.

"I was walking along the top of the ridge when I slipped and tripped and knocked my head. I went to shake it off, then I sort of collapsed on the ground again," he said.

"Next thing I know, I woke up and it was raining and I was wet and cold with blood in my mouth from my bleeding nose.

"I didn't know how long I'd been out for but it must have been a good few hours."

Mr Bishara said his first thought when he'd woken was "let's get out of here" so he kept walking. He had lost his map but still had his compass.

"Unfortunately, I thought I was fine but I wasn't.

"I got a bit disoriented, thinking my right was right but instead I was thinking I was turning right but going left."

If there was anything Mr Bishara would have done differently, it would have been to stay put, he said.

Mr Bishara, who has been hunting since he was 15, said he kept going until he heard what he thought was a stream.

"I crashed down through the bush and into the water. I swam about two metres across and got all wet and cold again. I had to strip off and did a bit of a dance and got enough bits and pieces to get a fire going and settled, tried to keep warm until the morning."

It was not long before Mr Bishara was off again, remembering a landmark of pine trees.

From those trees, Mr Bishara saw buildings and about 10pm he stumbled across some farmland.

"I went up to the house and yelled out to see if anyone was home but there was no answer, so I went back to the little shed there and started a fire.

"The farmer had seen some smoke and came down to check it out and found me. He said 'we better get you inside' and got in touch with the search and rescue guys and that was it."

Mr Bishara said he was not scared but was concerned at how woozy he was and the several times he blacked out while walking.

Mr Bishara said the doctors suggested a delayed concussion and his diabetes most likely contributed to the blackouts. Mr Bishara also wanted to express deep gratitude to the men and women who searched for him.

Gisborne police Sergeant Greg Lexmond said Mr Bishara is lucky to be alive.

"He fell into the water there. That could have easily been any number of bluffs and cliff faces, of which there are plenty in that area," he said.