High winds hampered the emergency airlift of two elderly men who fell ill on Fiordland's remote Coal Island on Sunday night while helping in a privately-sponsored stoat-trapping operation.
"It could have been worse if they'd spent the whole night out in the rain - there could have been a fatality," Acting Sergeant James Ure, of Te Anau, said.
The men aged 75 and 73, both of Takaka, were part of a five-strong party and were reported ill with suspected exhaustion after becoming sidetracked while checking traps at 7.30pm on Sunday.
"They had symptoms of exhaustion in the bush and had become sidetracked - there were fears they were in an exhausted state."
Fading light and wind gusts of up to 100kmh meant the Te Anau-based Southern Lakes helicopter's initial rescue attempt was abandoned but the crew was able to drop a tarpaulin for shelter.
Acting Sgt Ure said the men were lucky heavy rain around Te Anau had not affected 1163ha Coal Island, which lies at the entrance to Preservation Inlet.
The helicopter flew in at 7am yesterday carrying a winch operator.
The onboard doctor assessed the men, who had recovered from the previous evening and were assessed to be healthy and lucid, he said.
The men and the manager of operation sponsors Kisbee Lodge were then airlifted back to the lodge at Puysegur Point on the mainland.
