Tramper back to give thanks

Claire Robins (centre) with Rotorua Search and Rescue volunteers Gaal Ralston (left), Nick Adams, Sarah Orton, John Wilson, Roger Bawden and Cliff Graham. Photo / Stephen Parker

An Auckland woman who was stranded in the middle of a tramp with a raging fever has come back to thank her Rotorua rescuers.

Claire Robins donated $300 to Rotorua Search and Rescue volunteers at the weekend to show her appreciation for their help in her time of need.

A morning tea was held on Saturday for Ms Robins to present her donation.

"The donation is really about saying thanks and showing how much I appreciated their help," she said. Ms Robins was doing a tramp along the Eastern Okataina walkway on Auckland Anniversary weekend when she fell ill.

"I got really sick, my temperature sky-rocketed and I just couldn't cool myself down. The doctors didn't really know what was wrong but suspected I had caught some kind of a virus.

"If the search and rescue volunteers weren't able to come get me, we would have had to stay there overnight and make our way out slowly the next day.

"It wouldn't have been the end of the world if nobody came out that night, but it definitely wouldn't have been pleasant so I'm very grateful."

Ms Robins was doing the tramp as an assessor for girls trying to get their Duke of Edinburgh gold award.

"There was another assessor on the tramp so we split the group up and the other half walked out.

"What happened definitely hasn't affected my opinion of Rotorua and I will be back to finish the tramp, that's for sure," she said.

The donation was a token of her gratitude.

"I know these people are volunteers who freely give up their time to help others and I know quite a few of them missed their dinners because of me so I just wanted to say thanks."