Turangi Search & Rescue Group

(Above)  These are members of the Turangi Search & Rescue Group early in the morning of Sunday 24th August, 2003 camped in the saddle on the Tongariro Crossing at the base of Mt Ngauruhoe.  The team was alerted late on the Saturday night when a member of a climbing party had an asthma attack climbing Mt Ngauruhoe.  The climbing party were cold and wet and were starting to feel the effects of hypothermia.  The Turangi Search Teams with the help of a medic reached the party at 2:00am in the morning and stabilized the asthmatic and other team members assisted the rest of the group.  (Below)  The team breaking camp at first light before the helicopter lifted them out to the Mangatepopo Carpark.  One factor that slowed the search was that the party did not have a map, therefore could not give an accurate location of where they were.

Sporting Life is a supporter of the Turangi Search & Rescue Group and is now a location where Personal Locator Beacons (PLB's) can be hired for the use of individuals, groups or organizations.  This beacon is a GME Accusat Pocket Pro+ MT410G (406 MHz) beacon.  This should give an accuracy of less than 45 metres once activated. For more information or bookings to hire the locator beacon contact sport.life@xtra.co.nz  or ring 07 386 8996.

The Turangi Search & Rescue group is based on a volunteer service.  Not only are the personnel keen and dedicated when it comes to Search & Rescue but also with training and fundraising to be able to get the necessary equipment required for the job.