Story: Search and rescue

Carrying out Bill Bridge

A large group of people with tramping packs walk in a river, some carrying a stretcher

L. D. (Bill) Bridge, of the Tararua Tramping Club, helped frame the first rules for mountain searches in 1933, and was the Federated Mountain Clubs’ nominee to the national search and rescue committee in 1949. In 1964 he volunteered to train police squads, a task at which he excelled. When he died suddenly during a search and rescue exercise in 1973, his body had to be carried out of the bush by men he had trained.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1973/4841/7A
Photograph by Merv Griffiths

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, 'Search and rescue - History', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13210/carrying-out-bill-bridge (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 27 Jul 2023 with assistance from Dan Clearwater