Tramper rescued

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 1

Tramper rescued

A blood-spattered trail of footprints yesterday led searchers to an injured youth who had been missing on Mount Somers, 50km north-west of Ashburton, since Sunday. John Edwin Rawstorn, aged 16, had been wandering in a “dazed and disorientated state” after, he fell on ice near the summit of the mountain on Sunday, said the police search controller, Sergeant R. G. Gargett. The injured youth had spent Sunday night in the bush and was found in scrub about 3.p.m. yesterday after police and search and rescue volun-

teers had followed his trail for two hours. He was flown by helicopter to Methven and taken to Ashburton Hospital, where he was reported to be in a satisfctory condition last evening with leg injuries and abrasions. John Rawstorn, who comes from Geraldine but had been working on a farm near Methven, left his car at the Stayeley ice rink about 8 a.m. on Sunday to tramp through the Alford forest. He was reported missing later on Sunday after-* noon, and a search was started at first light yesterday.

“Just after 1 p.m. we found footprints and bloodstains above the bushline on the southern side of Mount Somers,” said Sergeant Gargett. “The tracks led down through the bush, and we eventually found him in scrub country near the foot of the mountain. He was not seriously injured, but he was dazed and disorientated.” The police called in a helicopter flown by Mr K. Kingsbury, of Whirlwide Helicopters, Ltd, which took the injured youth to Methven, where he was treated by a doctor.