Search for hunter has happy ending

The hunter was picked up by the ECT rescue helicopter.

A search at East Cape yesterday for a hunter missing in rugged bush terrain inland from Te Araroa had a happy ending.

A 59-year-old man and his 17-year-old son went hunting on Monday evening on a property in Kokomuku Road.

The pair became separated and the teenager raised the alarm.

A full search was mounted yesterday morning after an unsuccessful effort to find him on Tuesday night.

About a dozen police and civilian search and rescue personnel were involved on the ground.

At about 11am yesterday the man was able to use his cellphone to get help.

"He rang a store in Te Araroa and told them where he was, and they called police," search co-ordinator Sergeant Greg Lexmond said today.

The ECT rescue helicopter had been called in to assist with the search, and the man's general location was radioed to the chopper.

"We had just started our search pattern when the call came in that the man was walking along the bed of the Karakatuwhero River," said pilot Neil Dodds.

A crew member in the helicopter spotted the man about 25 kilometres upriver from Te Araroa.

"We flew down and picked him up. I think it would be fair to say he was pleased to see us," Mr Dodds said.

"He was tired, a bit cold but otherwise as good as gold.

"Given he had been out in the open all night he survived the experience very well."

The chopper crew flew the man to where he had left his vehicle.

"He had walked four to five kilometres from where he and his son started their hunting trip," Sgt Lexmond said.

"He told searchers he lay down and slept through the night, and reorientated himself in the morning."

It was fortunate he managed to get cellphone coverage, Sgt Lexmond said.

"He would have walked out eventually but it was also fortunate he was still mobile and not injured,"

The man was not a very experienced hunter and had gone into the bush wearing dress shoes, jeans and a woollen jersey, Sgt Lexmond said.

"I was very pleased with the performance of the helicopter crew.

"They were able to get on top of the situation, and the man, quickly.

"We were relieved the search ended the way it did."