A Northland man who was involved in a dramatic cave rescue 16 years ago in nearby Waipū says it's crucial to have a highly-skilled crew on hand.
Waipū Caves Farm Park operator Ian Fox also assisted in Tuesday's rescue effort at Abbey Caves. He said the constant monitoring of weather in the lead-up to trips is critical.
In 2007, a group of high school students were rescued from a caving system in Northland. A sudden downpour flooded the entrance and half the group was trapped. 3News reporter Bob McNeill - who was there reporting on the event - was even pulled in to help.
"Some of them had to hold onto a rope and be towed underwater before popping out to safety," said McNeill.
Fox was director of the company that took the students into the cave back then. His business partner was trapped with them.
"He told me it was like a wall of water, maybe half a metre high, coming down the passage rapidly," said Fox.
He said May is on the edge of the caving season, so extra care is required. Whereas back then, it was springtime and a judgement call was made.
"There was a weather warning further north, it was to the Far North. That weather warning had been lifted and the decision was that we would go into the cave system," Fox told Newshub.
Involved in cave rescue training for search and rescue for years, Fox was involved on Tuesday and said with no cell coverage or ability to use an emergency locator beacon, immense care must be taken in what are essentially underground stream systems.
"Whatever water's coming down that stream has to go through there, and if you get a choke point, water can back up."
On the Whangārei Boys' High School website, the year 11 outdoor education risk assessment for caving said: "Instructor to check weather leading up to trip and check water levels before trip, if there has been rain. Postpone trip if water levels may be too high."
"You should at least be mindful of the environment, and understand what the risks are in the sense of weather and what can potentially go wrong," said Fox.
"I think it’s every parents worst possible nightmare to send your child off to school in the morning and not have them return safely home in the evening," Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told Newshub.
When the news of the missing boy reached his hapū, members came to the cave and stayed until around midnight.
"We made the decision through our elders last night to close the caves and to execute a rāhui across that space, because it's important to allow the place to rest and to cleanse," said Huhana Lyndon, Ngati Kahu o Torongare spokeswoman.
The Prime Minister said on Wednesday the Ministry of Education has a team supporting the school community and the coroner and WorkSafe are now investigating.
A Givealittle page has been set up to help support the boy's whānau.
