Wānaka Search and Rescue’s specialist swift-water/canyon rescue team has been awarded LandSAR New Zealand’s Supreme Award for a complex search in Milford Sound last year.

The body of Milford Track worker Hamish Attenborough was located by the Wānaka team in a sheer-sided canyon above the Giant’s Gate Falls spilling into Milford Sound. 

“It was an extremely challenging search,” team leader Roy Bailey said. 

“It was like trying to find something the size of a can in an operating washing machine.”

The search was described as ‘finding a needle in a haystack’.

The search was initially launched after Hamish failed to return from a planned climb of the Devil’s Armchair peak. 

In a letter to Wānaka SAR after the operation, Te Anau Police OIC sergeant Tod Hellebon said: “The work carried out by the Wānaka team can only be described as outstanding”. 

“They were highly professional throughout,” he said. 

“To achieve a result of locating Hamish in what could be looked at as a ‘needle in a haystack’ scenario was testament to the teamwork, skill and commitment of all those involved.”

The Milford Sound operation was a forerunner to what is turning out to be the busiest Wānaka search and rescue season since 2018. 

Wānaka SAR has so far responded to 24 emergency call-outs this summer, including successfully assisting in a multi-day search in the Dart Valley last month.

On Monday (March 6) Wānaka Police SAR coordinator detective Alan Lee sent out a thank you to Wānaka Search and Rescue.

“They have had a very busy few weeks with callouts each week since the beginning of January,” he said.

“This week the team recovered an injured person from the Siberia Valley on Friday (March 3), followed by assisting two overdue trampers in the Wilkin Valley. 

“On Sunday (March 5) two climbers got into difficulty on Mount French and required rescue in inclement weather. Both were airlifted out, one with minor injuries. 

“This was a very challenging rescue due to the extreme terrain and weather conditions at the time.”

It is the third time Wānaka SAR has won the award, which this year was shared with SAR teams from Fiordland, Dunedin and Wakatipu.

‘The Wānaka team have a unique set of skills and experience that equips them to deal with pretty much anything, from deep canyons to icy mountain faces. We are very fortunate to have them,” Alan said.

PHOTOS: Supplied