The man was kayaking down the Kaituna River on Monday when he became separated from his kayak (file picture). Photo: CC BY 3.0 / Pseudopanax@wikimedia
A man is being airlifted to hospital after losing his kayak and spending almost 24 hours in the bush.
The man was found with a back injury at the bottom of a gully at Okere Falls in Rotorua.
Ground crews heard whistling and shouts for help shortly after 1pm on Tuesday and worked their way down to him.
Land Search and Rescue volunteers are cared for him while a helicopter flew in.
Senior Sergeant Graeme Hill said the 34-year-old was kayaking with friends down the Kaituna River on Monday when he became separated from his kayak.
He told his friends he intended to walk to a four-wheel-drive track and back to their accommodation.
That was at 2.30pm and the trip on foot would have taken several hours, Hill said.
By 9.30pm, the man still had not made it back to the accommodation and police were called.
Hill said as he was not carrying a Personal Locator Beacon, a large search operation began immediately, involving ground crews, and the police Eagle helicopter.
Police wanted to thank everyone involved in the operation, he said.
"Search teams have worked through the night in challenging and dangerous terrain, and we're grateful to be able to reunite the man with his family and friends."
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