Two students could have died after they got separated from their outdoor education group in icy conditions on Mt Tongariro yesterday, while their leader had no idea they were even missing. Police say the situation was a "debacle" and if the hypothermic students had not been able to make a cellphone call to get help, they would have died. The 13-strong group, from Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Hamilton, set out to undertake the 19.4km walk yesterday with one instructor. Once they had warmed up a little, the group attempted to get the stricken students off the mountain. Shepherd said if the students had not been able to make a cellphone call, "it's fair to say they would have perished."

Source: Otago Daily Times October 20, 2016 18:56 UTC