Girls could freeze in bush

Press, 21 July 1980, Page 1

Girls could freeze in bush

PA Rotorua The police held fears last night for the safety of the two Ruatahuna sisters missing in rugged bush country in Urewera National Park since Wednesday afternoon. Sweeps by a helicopter and about 60 searchers failed to f inu any sign of the sisters yesterday. The officer in charge of the search, Sergeant R. Sutton, of Rotorua, said that the women, Salina Apirana, aged 20. and Noti Apirana, aged 19, would •certainly be suffering the effects of exposure after the freezing temperatures in the region. More searchers will be brought into the area between Ruatahuna and Lake Waikaremoana today, continuing a major attempt to find the two women. Sergeant Sutton said the sisters v.ere lightly dressed and had no means of lighting a fire. “They are relatively experienced in the bush and there is still every chance ‘they can be found,” he said yesterday. But rain and low temperatures are forecast today which could hamper searching parties. The sisters disappeared after they went to check opossum traps ne? their camps, 3km south-east of Ruatahuna. On Saturday a search party found items of clothing — a shirt and cardigan belonging to the women, about 2km from their camp. One theory is that the women might have discarded the clothing before climbing a hill, not suspecting that they would be still lost in the bush at nightfall. Local residents described the area as extremely rugged, with dangerous bluffs. Searchers found footprints but these were later discounted as belonging to a hunter.