Five die in school adventure tragedy
Five people died and three others were missing after a group of pupils and teachers were swept away by a flooded river in New Zealand today.
The 10 teenagers and two teachers from the Auckland Elim Christian College were caught by rising water levels in the Mangatepopo River in central North Island’s Tongariro National Park.
Police confirmed five had died and three were missing, but would not reveal their identities.
Rescue teams were searching the area, but poor weather was hampering them.
The teenagers were part of a group of 40 students attending a week-long education course at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in the small town of Turangi.
Murray Burton, principal of Elim private Christian high school in Auckland, where some of the teenagers studied, said they were on the river when they became separated from the main party.
“From what I understand they were well equipped for the journey with wetsuits, life jackets and harnesses,” he said.
“It is a fairly standard sort of activity. I guess it was the (outdoor centre’s) call as to whether they should still go (out in the conditions) and I have no reason to doubt their judgement,” he said.
It was not clear whether they were in a boat or crossing the river on foot.
“Our prayers are with the students, the teachers and their parents,” a school spokesman said.
