News
Monday 23rd May Breaking News: Police Rescue team are bringing out the stranded 4WD group of 36 on Snowcat and will then be transported to Roxburgh. This is great news that everyone has got out safely.
Police are continuing the operation to retrieve the group trapped on an off-road track at Waikaia Bush Road.
Rescue helicopters have attempted to locate the group but had to turn back due to severe weather.
The Search and Rescue team are looking at other options to reach the group, including employing the New Zealand Defence Force NH90 helicopter.
Police are very mindful that the group were not equipped to be in the area overnight and have limited supplies. Every effort is being made to reach them as soon as we can to ensure their wellbeing.
Check out the latest photos & fly over video of the 4WD vehicles stranded on Old Man Range/Piano Flat from Heliview Flights, counter to speculation of the owners going up to retrieve their trucks, the latest photos courtesy of Heliview Flights tell a different story they’re going no where!
Updated: Good news. Reports out today say all the vehicles that were stranded on the Old Man Range after a blizzard a couple of week ago have been rescued. A local bulldozing contractor cleared a path along the track so all the vehicles could be brought down. The operation had the approval of the local district council.
Video of the stranded 4WD leaving the snow.
Photo: by Joy Bennett/odt.co.nz
Photo: by Joy Bennett/odt.co.nz
And here are the original pics and helicopter fly over
Heliview Flights yesterday morning took a fly over of where the thirteen 4WD vehicles have been left behind.
On Monday 38 people were rescued after spending 21 hours in freezing conditions on an off road up the Piano Flat.