Mayo hiker rescued during New Zealand weather emergency

A MAYO hiker has told of his experience after being caught up in a severe weather emergency in New Zealand for a number of days.

Castlebar man Liam Loftus, a Heritage Studies graduate of the Galway Mayo Instutute of Technology in the town where he underwent survival skills training, and Craig Lewis, gave a first half account to 1 NEWS, New Zealand, of what it was like to be trapped on a track in Fiordland National Park, and rescued, as severe weather slammed the region.

They were hiking separately, but were both rescued earlier this week from the Hollyford Track.

Mr. Loftus said he hadn't seen anyone for three days and attempted to walk out of the track on Tuesday morning. He told 1 NEWS the sound of helicopters sent him back to the hut.

"I had to make a judgement of whether to try and push on. I decided to come back to the hut. At least it was dry and I had enough food. I could wait it out," he said.

He also had an emergency beacon on him during his days in the wilderness in intense rain and flooding.

"I had a beacon with me. I knew that was there as an option," he said.

"The lake level really changed it for me. I knew I would have to use the beacon at some point or a helicopter would come in."

Every time the helicopter would come by, Mr Loftus said he would go outside so they could see someone was there.

"They came down and asked me what my situation was. They said I’d have to come out so we then went out and picked up two more on the trail and three of us came out together," he said.

One of Mr. Loftus' fellow trampers the helicopter had picked up was Craig Lewis. He was walking out of the track when he got stuck, and rescued, and did not remember the river that was trapping him actually existing on his way in.

"It must have been a small creek but it was extremely fast flowing, up to my hips and the top of my thighs to start with," said Mr. Lewis.

"It was not going to be passable no matter what."

Mr. Lewis said he was just going to sit and wait until the river went down, but then the helicopter found him.

Both of the men were bused to a community centre in Te Anau and were given food and accommodation.

Around 100 people were evacuated from the Hollyford track and nearby Routeburn Track due to the extreme weather.

A state of emergency had been declared in the Southland region, including Fiordland, during to the severe weather.