Mum vetoes pig hunting trips after walkabout
The boy was found about midnight on Monday, curled up in a hole under scrub in the Kaingaroa Forest, after walking alone for almost three kilometres.
All he wanted was a cuddle from the searcher - he wouldnt let go of his Swanndri, his father, Michael Hutchins of Rerewhakaitu, near Rotorua, told The Dominion Post.
Though safe apart from a few scratches, the hunting teams escapades have been vetoed by his mother, Esther, unless she is there to supervise.
More than 50 police, Land Search and Rescue volunteers and family members searched nine hours in dense scrub before finding the boy, also called Michael.
He wore just a T-shirt, shorts and gumboots, but was none the worse for his ordeal when found, said Taupo LandSAR coordinator Senior Constable Barry Shepherd.
He was fine. He wasnt crying and he was a bit wet from the rain, but luckily it was a warm night.
Searchers found the boy by calling out his nickname Son- and he had replied Dad, Mr Shepherd said.
Michael had gone pig hunting with his father and five-year-old sister about midday.
Mr Hutchins, a butcher at a venison processing plant in Mamaku, parked his truck in High Level Rd, near Reporoa, when he saw a pig not far away. Leaving Michael strapped in a car seat with his sister inside the truck, he let his dogs go and followed after them as they tracked the pig.
The pig wasnt far away and I thought it would be a quick hunt. Little did I know I would end up hunting for my son for nine hours.
Unknown to Mr Hutchins, who ended up bagging two pigs, Michael had hopped out of his car seat to find his father.
Mr Hutchins came back to the truck to find his son gone and his daughter pointing in the direction Michael had gone walkabout.
I took off up the road in the truck but couldnt find him.
Then I realised I was nearly out of diesel so came back and rang the police.
Michael was in a bit of shock, and cold and wet, but pretty calm.
He wasnt scared at all. He had some scratches on his arms from the blackberry bushes and cutty grass.
I think he may have gone to sleep, because we had searched that part of the forest and got no reply.
Hes very tired now, and a bit irritable and hungry, but I dont think he knows what happened. We cant thank the search and rescue guys enough, it was a great turnout.
Mr Hutchins said it might be the last time the boy went hunting with him alone. He hunts with me quite a bit but normally stays in the truck, or comes with me.
My wife, Esther, said I am not allowed to take him again unless she comes with us and supervises.
Police have not decided whether to charge Mr Hutchins.
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Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 6:07 pm under