Trapped cave tourists 'ignored warning sign'

Two Polish tourists trapped by a flash flood in the Clifden limestone caves, near Tuatapere, Southland, ignored a warning sign, a rescuer said today.

Police and emergency services staff rescued the man and woman, believed to be aged in their mid-20s, at 1am today.

A Tuatapere volunteer firefighter said there was a sign warning people not to enter the caves during heavy rain, but the tourists had done so anyway.

Senior Sergeant Neil Cruickshank, of Invercargill police, told NZPA the pair were lucky to survive.

"We were very surprised they survived, and that they weren't hurt. They had a narrow escape considering the volume of water in the caves."

A friend of the missing pair, who had been waiting in a car, became concerned and went into the upper cave entrance, calling for them, but had to leave when water rushed into all the caves' entrances.

About 30 people were involved in the rescue effort. The firefighter said it was unusual for people to be trapped in the caves.

"The warning sign says don't go down there in heavy rain. They did. We thought there was no hope for them, the entrance to the caves were absolutely flooded," said the volunteer firefighter, who did not want to be named.

Police and emergency services were alerted about 6.40pm.

Mr Cruickshank said the pair were taken to hospital to be checked over "as a precaution" and police would be speaking to them further about the matter today.

- NZPA