‘Best hot chocolate ever’: Tramper and loyal dog rescued from freezing Tararua Range
July 8, 2025
An air force helicopter crew winched a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog to safety from freezing conditions in the Tararua Range.
The rescue took place in pre-dawn darkness early on Tuesday, with the crew negotiating low cloud and steep terrain.
Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his kelpie, Winnie, were on the second night of a tramp heading towards the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres.
“I’ve been told since then that it’s a notoriously difficult hut to find because the track had overgrown,” Graham said.
Unable to find the shelter on Monday night, he and Winnie settled under a large rock, which had icicles hanging off it that would provide water if needed.
However, by 9pm the cloud lifted, bringing dew down and freezing his sleeping bag.
Graham called emergency services and set off his personal locator beacon.
It was initially decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am, a shivering Graham, concerned about his health should rain set in, contacted the police again.
An NH90 helicopter from Base Ōhakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am and arrived overhead 30 minutes later.
“They took Winnie up first, which was lovely and brought a specific bag for the dog.
“As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life.
“They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front.”
After landing at Masterton’s Hood Aerodrome, Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet.
It was an emotional journey out of the ranges and Graham said he was “pretty happy” at the time to be flown to safety.
He said he was looking forward to seeing his wife and their 1-year-old baby.
No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot and squadron leader Andrew Stewart said Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him, which meant they were able to fly almost directly to him.
“When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily.”
The terrain was steep with bluffs directly below Graham, so it was a potentially dangerous situation for him to have lost his bearings, Stewart said.
The cloud was thick and low, sitting on the eastern side of the ranges, he said.
“The temperature was pretty much on freezing – it was 0.5C when we were up there where he was.”
Graham said he wanted to pass his thanks to the NH90 crew and police who helped him in the early hours.
“I can’t imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am.
“I’m just really grateful. And I hope the medic keeps tight hold of whatever recipe he has for that hot chocolate.”
The rescue was medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh’s first time winching in a search and rescue mission since gaining his qualification a week earlier.
