Rescuers find missing tourist bloody-faced after long night on Mt Ruapehu

The missing, injured woman is believed to have become lost after falling and hitting her head. Photo / Supplied

A missing, injured woman has been rescued after surviving multiple falls and a night on Mt Ruapehu.

The dramatic incident saw rescuers trek up the mountain for five hours in the dark before finding the woman with a bloodied face, perched on the edge of a waterfall.

Ruapehu Police Constable Aaron Owen said they were alerted of the missing tourist at about 6pm yesterday.

She had been in touch with a friend as she attempted to walk to the summit of Mt Ruapehu. But, after several hours of not hearing from the woman, whose last text suggested she had no idea where she was, the friend decided to call 111.

"While talking with police, the friend received a call from her advising that she was lost and had fallen and had suffered a serious head injury," Owen said.

Details of the woman's whereabouts were sparse with an unknown start point, and some cryptic clues relating to a river, a waterfall and possibly a hut.

Rescuers including a Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, paramedic and volunteers from Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) began searching high probability areas on the mountain. And, with daylight fading and a huge area to search, a second chopper soon joined the search.

"Just as poor weather conditions on the upper mountain hampered the helicopter search, the missing woman made a 111 call and was able to provide a GPS reading of where she was through her cell phone," said Owen.

The GPS location showed the woman near the Whangaehu Stream, on the opposite side of the mountain from where she was trying to go.

But after failed attempts to reach her by helicopter due to strong winds, RARO volunteers were left with no option but to start a five-hour trek in the dark.

The volunteers found the woman at about 2.30am asleep in her sleeping bag perched on the edge of a large waterfall on the eastern side of the mountain. She was unaware of what had happened and where the blood on her head and face had come from, according to a statement from Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.

"She was cold, tired and had obvious head and facial injuries," said Owen.

RARO volunteers helped the woman to a nearby alpine hut and gave her first aid before bunking down for the night.

The rescue helicopter reached the woman this morning and transported her to Rotorua Hospital.

The rescue helicopter reached the woman this morning and transported her to Rotorua Hospital. Photo / Greenlea Rescue Chopper

In the statement Greenlea Rescue Helicopter said the woman had multiple serious injuries. They said it appeared she was knocked out yesterday afternoon after slipping and falling on ice and snow.

"Given the environment in which she was found it is extremely fortunate that she did not come to more harm, despite sustaining considerable injuries."

Owen said police believed the woman fell and was injured at the summit after walking from Whakapapa Village.

"While dazed and confused as a result of those injuries she has begun walking in the opposite direction and down the wrong side of the mountain into the Whangaehu Glacier and downstream, where she was subsequently located," Owen said.

He said the experience, skill and knowledge of all those involved in the rescue was instrumental in locating the injured woman.

"Police would also like to remind people venturing into the back country to ensure they have left their travel plans with a friend, and to carry the correct equipment including extra food and water, a shelter, Personal Locator Beacon and a torch.

"These things could save your life in the event that things don't go to plan."