The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the Motu River (East Cape) at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon by the Rescue Coordination Centre, following the activation of a personal locator transmitter.
GPS coordinates from satellites and the onboard direction finding gear helped to locate two lost hunters in rugged terrain and dense vegetation.
The two 32-year-old hunters had been dropped off by jet boat for a 3-hour hunt the previous day and managed to get lost, resulting in an unexpected overnight stay in the bush.
After trying to find their way out the next day, hungry, disorientated and forced to battle swollen rivers, the situation got the better of them, so they decided to activate their personal locator transmitter.
Apart from being tired and hungry they had no injuries and were dropped off in Opotiki to pick up their vehicle.
