Caver injured near Golden Bay

Descending into Harwoods Hole. Photo: Paul Rowe/Creative Commons via Doc
Descending into Harwoods Hole. Photo: Paul Rowe/Creative Commons via Doc
Cave rescue specialists have been deployed to rescue a person who is injured after falling at the Harwoods Hole caves in the Abel Tasman National Park.

Police said four cave rescue specialists were to enter the caving system where it is expected to take "one to two hours" to reach the person.

Police confirmed a person was injured in the fall but it was not believed to be life-threatening.

Emergency teams were alerted by a group in the area just after 12.15pm.

Police said the location of the incident was remote and a helicopter had been sent.

"The Fire Service and St John Ambulance are also involved," police said. 

Communications in the area are not optimum, however police have said they will try to keep the media informed as the situation develops.

Fairfax reported that one person was injured, and others are stranded at the bottom of the shaft.

The 175m deep hole is the country's deepest vertical shaft, dropping to an underground river that flows into the Gorge Creek and the Takaka River.

Inexperienced or poorly prepared groups getting into trouble have sparked rescue operations in the past, the Department of Conservation said.

It is not considered a suitable place for learners and Doc describes it as "very dangerous".

Those tackling the hole abseil down the shaft then exit through the cave below.

The trip takes at least nine hours for small groups of experienced, well-equipped cavers who are familiar with the rigging.

In 2008 three people were rescued from the notorious sinkhole after spending hours trapped in the shaft.

 

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