In November 1982, two climbers Phil Doole and Mark Inglis were trapped on the summit ridge of Aoraki Mount Cook at over 3000 metres. Taking shelter in a sparse crevasse near the summit, unseasonal weather – storms and high winds – thwarted any rescue attempts when the pair were declared missing after five days. Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.Thanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.Archive recordings supplied thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and VisionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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52:26
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52:26
The Way It Was
A typical rescue today is aided by GPS, personal location beacons, agile helicopters and LandSAR rescuers, many who are highly trained and well equipped volunteers. This is in stark contrast to the 1960s, where rescuers usually came from tramping clubs, they provided their own gear, and could be out in the field for days, it was all very "number 8 wire".Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.Thanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.Archive recordings supplied thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and VisionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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48:30
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48:30
Troglodytes
Not all rescues take place above ground. At the centre of the largest and most complex cave rescues ever attempted was Dr Michael Brewer. In 2007, the local doctor was trapped and injured two kilometres underground, cavers from all over the country were flown into Nelson to extract him from the little explored cave system in the Takaka Hills. Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.Thanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.Archive recordings supplied thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and VisionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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44:26
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44:26
A Sense of Duty
In the winter of 1966, four climbers went to climb the Otira Face of Mount Rolleston in Arthurs Pass National Park and never returned. The subsequent search and rescue operation was one of the last large scale call outs - all on foot - that saw up to a hundred volunteers involved and the first to have a rescuer killed in tragic circumstances. Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.Thanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.Archival recordings thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and VisionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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45:51
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45:51
Between Heaven and Earth
Cascade Saddle in Mount Aspiring National Park is a popular alpine crossing, but the difficulty of the trek and the hazards are often underestimated by inexperienced trampers on this long and demanding route. For two overseas tourists, an overnight adventure to the park goes horribly wrong and sets in place a difficult alpine rescue.Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.See photos and read more about this episode on the RNZ websiteThanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.Archive recordings supplied thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and VisionGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Each year, thousands of people need to be rescued in New Zealand’s unforgiving outdoors. Some searches are successful, some not. But behind each is an incredible story of courage.
Ireland