Runaway bridesmaid sparks helicopter search

The bridesmaid flew back to Australia yesterday after spending a night in the bush. File photo / Herald on Sunday

A merry Australian bridesmaid sparked a four-hour search after she lost her way from the reception in the Waitakere Ranges.

It was not the only incident at an eventful wedding. Another guest had to be liberated from a toilet after panicking when the door stuck. The door had to be broken down.

The bridesmaid, 26, who lives on the Gold Coast, disappeared from Huia Hall on Huia Rd about 1.20am yesterday. There are stands of bush nearby.

The police Eagle helicopter flew over the area using its thermal imaging equipment, but could not find her.

She was eventually found tucked up asleep in bush at 5.30am, unaware of the commotion she had caused.

Suffering a few bumps, scratches and a bruised ego, she was yesterday on a plane back across the Tasman.

The bride, who did not wish to be named, said her friend had been staying at a house in Little Huia and had lost her way.

"She's from Australia and didn't know the area," she said.

"She kind of got lost and ended up wandering through the bush."

The bridesmaid, who had changed into jeans and a sweater, wandered around dazed and disoriented before taking refuge from the cold.

Auckland search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Dene Duthie said several family members had seen the bridesmaid disappear into the bush after the reception.

"People do strange things when they're drunk," he said.

Police checked with wedding guests, to ensure she was not with any of them, then a police dog was sent into the bush to try to sniff her out.

When this proved fruitless, a team of eight officers began searching the area behind the hall.

"It was actually relatively cold out there so you wonder what can happen to them because she was pretty intoxicated," Mr Duthie said.

The police Eagle helicopter and its thermal imaging equipment also could not locate her.

"It doesn't pick things up through bush," Mr Duthie said. "It's good in the open but not so good out in the canopy."

Four hours later, the bridesmaid was found in the bush, only about 15 metres from the road.

"A paramedic tapped her on the shoulder and said, 'Are you okay?' and checked her out before we took her home."

Mr Duthie said the bridesmaid had a lump on her head and vaguely remembered falling over earlier in the night.

He said although a significant number of police resources went into the operation, it was always better to be safe than sorry.