EXHAUSTED TRAMPER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 180, 28 April 1931, Page 8

EXHAUSTED TRAMPER

Night on Mountain TIMELY RESCUE EFFECTED Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, April 27. An unenviable experience was the portion of Mr. G. Wright, of the Otago Tramping Club, during the week-end, when, accompanied by Mr. O. Balk, who is also a prominent member of that chib, he found himself lost in the Blue Mountains not far from Tapanui. Advice received in Dunedin to-night stated that Mr. Wright is now at the Tapanui Hospital suffering from bronchitis and pneumonia, but is progressing favourably. Messrs. Balk and Wright made an excursion into the mountains on Saturday, intending to return to Tapanui in the afternoon. _ They climbed to the spur above Whisky Gully, and separated for the return journey, having arranged to meet at the foot of the mountain. A heavy fog came down, and Mr. Balk eventually decided to try to find Mr. Wright, but by the time darkness had fallen he had failed to do so. He spent the night in the bush, and returned to Tapanui in the morning to organise a search party. Two parties went out, and Mr. Wright was found about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, not far from the place where the men had separated. He was in nn exhausted condition, and had to be carried to Tapanui.

It is probable that had Mr. Wright been another night in the open the consequences would have been much more serious.