Trapped scouts running out of food

A Scout tramping party trapped in the Craigieburn Range west of Christchurch is low on food and will be brought out by helicopter today if a swollen river fails to drop.

The group, comprising a female adult supervisor with two 15-year-old and two 20-year-old scouts, was among several tramping parties caught out by swiftly rising streams in the Arthurs Pass and Craigieburn area at the weekend.

Weather conditions were described as "atrocious", with 180mm of rain recorded at Arthurs Pass in 24 hours from Saturday and 70mm falling in the Craigieburn catchment.

Cut off by the raging river, the scouting group hunkered down in the Broken River Hut as they watched huge boulders rolling down the river outside the hut's door.

Christchurch police Search and Rescue (SAR) co-ordinator Sergeant Tony Tully spoke to the group by radio this morning and said they were running short of food but unable to walk out because the river was still too high.

"They're just down to snacks," he said. "They had soup and cabin bread and nibbles for tea last night and they're getting a little low."

Mr Tully said police SAR staff were heading into the area to assess river levels. A helicopter was on standby in case they were unable to walk out.

"If it's not safe at 11am, I've arranged for a helicopter to go and pick them up," he said.

The scouts had done "everything right" after going into the area for the weekend on a mission to gain their Duke of Edinburgh awards. They took a radio with them, were well-equipped and had elected to stay put at the hut rather than risk a dangerous river crossing.

"Today's the day they come out," Mr Tully said.

- NZPA