Several Otago people have tonight been recognised for their search and rescue work last year.
Robert Borst, Peter Muldrew, and members of Wanaka Alpine Cliff Rescue have been awarded Certificates of Aheivement for their important contribution to search and rescue.
Robert Borst and Peter Muldrew rescued a trapped motorist from Fuschia Creek, in North Otago, on April 18 last year.
Rhoda Davidson had misjudged the depth and speed of water crossing the Five Forks bridge, and her car was swept down the Kakanui River and caught in a fence.
Mr Borst, a local farmer, rescued her with his 14-tonne digger, with help from Oamaru policeman Sergeant Peter Muldrew.
The pair received bronze medals from the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand yesterday.
Wanaka Alpine Cliff Rescue was recognised for its role in the rescue of climbers from the Quarter Deck, at Mt Aspiring, on September 10 last year.
A family of three climbers set off their emergency locator beacon after a 57-year-old man in the group fell and suffered chest injuries.
Poor weather foiled an initial attempt at rescue with a chopper, and team members climbed 1100m in snowy conditions to reach the stranded climbers.
During the night more team members were called in. They planned contingencies for a slope lowering operation if the weather did not improve and were dropped off low on the mountain to walk into the site at 8.30am.
The weather improved enough for the first team to evacuate the patient and his wife by helicopter, and the incoming team remained on the mountain with the patient's son until the helicopter returned.
• The HMNZS Otago was recognised for the rescue of crew from the yacht Django on July 8 last year.
The 11 metre yacht was on a return trip from Fiji and 170 nautical miles north of North Cape when it had issued a mayday call.
The yacht's rudder was becoming detached, putting the vessel in danger of sinking.
The Otago arrived alongside Django at about 5.30pm, with the Laura Bulker on scene shortly after and standing by while the naval vessel carried out the rescue.
The Django's crew abandoned ship into a liferaft, but as it was being hauled across to the Otago they feared the larger vessel was about to roll over and crush them in the heavy seas, and they cut the rope.
The Otago then sent a swimmer into the water with another rope, to tie the life raft on again and bring it alongside.
