Scouts trapped by West Coast river airlifted out

Ten scouts weren't prepared for a rapidly rising creek that trapped them during a West Coast bush tramp, with the youths needing a helicopter lift out of the rain.

The scouts, aged 15 to 17, were on the second day of a four-day tramp in the upper Taramakau River area, near the Lewis Pass. Heavy rain stopped them from reaching their hut, so they tried to return to the road, Hokitika Constable Tony LeSueur said.

The group waited overnight for the engorged Pfeifer Creek to drop, but the rain kept falling, so they called for help on their mountain radio the next morning.

The West Coast Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter found the bedraggled teens about 11.30am, and in three trips brought the group out of the bush.

After 12 hours outside in the rain, some of the teenagers had early-stage hypothermia, Mr LeSueur said. "Given the adverse weather forecast the tramp should not have been attempted, but once they realised they were trapped they had done everything right."