Rescuers start to stretcher sick tramper out of Tararuas

The long trek to a hut carrying a sick tramper is underway for rescuers in the Tararua Ranges after another attempt by an air force Iroquois helicopter to fly her out was again thwarted by the weather.

Wellington woman Louise Wilkinson, 49, has been trapped, post-hypothermic and exhausted, in the ranges since Tuesday.

This morning search and rescue adviser Matthew Nolan told NZPA the 30-strong rescue team had begun to carry the stricken tramper out on a stretcher before 11am.

It was a six-hour trek carrying the stretcher to the nearest hut on the Hutt Valley side of the Tararua Ranges.

"She's now off the main ridge. She's in a more sheltered location on a side spur.

"The helicopter is still unable to reach her. Plans are underway to keep her for another night in the bush if the helicopter cannot get in."

Mr Nolan said if the weather cleared a helicopter could go in to collect Ms Wilkinson at any time up until dusk.

"It's cold up there, very windy and no visibility at all."

The Department of Conservation is asking people to avoid trips into the Tararuas after torrential rain washed out bridges and damaged popular tracks.

DOC field officer Wayne Boness said today the department did not yet have an accurate assessment of the damage in the Tararua Forest Park.

"We do know that we have lost the suspension bridge at Otaki Forks and there has been substantial damage to the camping ground and around the caretaker's house.

"With the bridge out, that effectively cuts crucial access to all the tracks in that area," Mr Boness said.

In the 24 hours up to 8am yesterday 255mm of rain fell in the Otaki Forks area, Mr Boness said. Of that 172mm fell in just 12 hours.

"We are asking people to stay out of the area. We definitely don't want people trying to cross the river, it's just too dangerous," Mr Boness said.

Mr Boness said DOC staff were looking at their options for the short term.

"The trouble is we can't get in there to have a real good look," he said.

Mr Boness said work on repairing tracks affected by the February floods last year may have been in vain.

"As far as the bridge goes it will need to be replaced.

"Again it is a matter of assessing all of the damage and then putting it into a priority rating and working from there," he said.

During 2004 DOC staff and tramping club volunteers spent hundreds of hours in the ranges clearing and maintaining tracks, bridges and huts.

- NZPA, HOROWHENUA-KAPITI CHRONICLE (LEVIN)