Rescuers slam time-wasting cavers

PATRICK HAMILTON/Nelson Mail

RELIEF: Tina Bark and Leon Davis of the USA emerge from the forest surrounding Harwoods Hole after their rescue on Wednesday evening.

PATRICK HAMILTON/Nelson Mail

OUT AT LAST: Climber Tom Harvey of England emerges from the forest surrounding Harwoods Hole after being rescued.

PATRICK HAMILTON/Nelson Mail

WAR STORIES: Tina Bark of Arizona, centre, describes the experience that she and Tom Harvey of England, right, had down Harwood's Hole.

PATRICK HAMILTON/Nelson Mail

RESCUE MISSION: Ian Watts and Jennie Chisnall of the Nelson Land Search and Rescue Group, left, talk with Seargent Blair Hall of the Nelson Police at the mouth of Harwoods Hole before the rescue.

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Rock climbers rescued from Harwood's Hole are defending their decision to enter the dangerous Takaka Hill caving system, despite angry rescuers saying their time was wasted by ill-equipped adventurers.

At least 50 people, many of them volunteers, spent more than 12 hours involved in the rescue of three tourists from the massive sinkhole after police received a 111 call at 12.40pm Wednesday.

Tasman police district search and rescue coordinator Inspector Hugh Flower said the group had wasted a lot of people's time through a rescue which cost at least $5000.

"They were ill-equipped, ill-advised, ill-prepared, inexperienced, unable to self-rescue and inadequately clothed."

Harwood's Hole, which was about 200m deep, was for experienced cavers with the correct equipment, but Mr Flower said it was advertised as a place to visit for anyone who had the inclination and time.

A party of eight rock climbers went to the hole Wednesday morning, and Mr Flower said four were making their way out of the Starlight Cave exit when three who were still abseiling down got into trouble.

English tourist Tom Harvey, 22, was suspended about halfway down the hole when he saw his rope had frayed, meaning he could not go any further, and neither could American Tina Bark, 27, whom Mr Flower said was inexperienced and about 40m into the hole.

Welshman Ben Jones, 22, had reached the bottom, and was stuck there, while American Leon Davis, 22, was above the hole and alerted police.

Mr Flower said rescuers were first told Mr Jones was seriously injured, but it turned out the group were all in good health, but lacked the right equipment or the expertise to climb back up the hole by themselves.

The four climbers who were already in Starlight Cave were escorted out by cave rescuers at 7.20pm, while the three who were stuck were helped out in stages through the night.

Mr Harvey said the group were all experienced rock climbers who believed they had the right equipment.

He had spent nearly nine hours hanging on to a tiny ledge, which Mr Jones had helped him swing on to.

Mr Harvey had spent 10 minutes suspended halfway down the hole after realising his rope had frayed, but said having different equipment would not have made a difference.

He tried to speak to Ms Bark who was above him on a ledge in a safety harness, but said the echoes made communicating difficult.

Up until that "single most terrifying moment" of his life, Mr Harvey said the abseil had been smooth, steady, and "really cool".

He said he did not feel embarrassed about the rescue, and the group thanked everyone who had helped.

However, Murchison doctor and caver Danielle Gemenis said the rope would not have "melted" if the group had had the correct equipment.

She said the cavers also would have been able to rescue themselves if they had the expertise, instead they were taught the technique by the rescuers.

Dr Gemenis said she was "extremely annoyed" to have to travel from Murchison, cancelling appointments with patients and leaving the town without a doctor, for an entirely avoidable event.

"My job as a doctor is to look after my community, not chase idiots around the countryside."

Murchison caver Mick Hopkinson, who owns the New Zealand Kayak School in Murchison, said the group got its "day out" and a free caving lesson, while Mr Jones received what was essentially a free guided tour of Starlight Cave. He was the last person to be helped out of the cave, at 12.15am Thursday.

Experienced cavers would know how to go back up a rope to get out of a cave, and work around frayed thread, he said.

Mr Hopkinson did not believe Harwood's Hole should be closed, but there was a need for more education and training about caving. He urged would-be cavers to join a club to learn.

In addition to volunteer cavers and Search and Rescue personnel, the Motueka Volunteer Fire Brigade, Urban Search and Rescue, and Land Search and Rescue also helped.

Seventh Day Adventists were on hand at the carpark cooking a hot meal and handing welcome cups of hot tea and coffee to rescue personnel.

A group of cavers from Sydney, who had planned to visit Harwood's Hole Thursday, also arrived and offered to do whatever they could to help.