Three New Zealand youths were rescued after spending a cold night stranded in a gorge due to inadequate preparation.

Three young men were rescued after spending a cold, wet night stranded in a New Zealand gorge following a poorly planned river float. Unprepared for the weather and wearing only light clothing, they became trapped between cliffs as darkness fell. A brief cell signal allowed them to call emergency services around 7:30 p.m., triggering a search and rescue effort. A helicopter could not land due to poor weather, so ground teams located them around 3 a.m. and provided shelter, clothing, and food. They were safely extracted the next morning with help from Wellington Rafting. Authorities stressed the importance of proper preparation and carrying personal locator beacons (PLBs), which can be lifesaving when communication is lost.