New Zealand Climbers Rescued From Solomon Islands Peak

When the clouds finally parted over Mount Popomanaseu in the Solomon Islands, a rescue helicopter had just one shot to save two young climbers who had been stranded for six days on a steep ravine.

Keanu Isaksson, 25, and Luca Zylstra, 19, childhood neighbors from New Zealand, traveled to the Solomon Islands seeking adventure and training for an upcoming Amazon expedition. They successfully summited the 2,335-meter volcanic peak with local tribal guides, taller than Australia's Mount Kosciuszko.

The trouble started on the way down. Torrential rains turned the steep descent into what their families described as "impossible" terrain. The pair had to set up camp on a rock ledge overlooking a waterfall, where they waited for rescue while rivers swelled dangerously around them.

The men came prepared. They had enough food rations to last all six days and the climbing equipment needed to handle whatever came next. That preparation became crucial when their rescue finally arrived.

Helicopter pilot Paul Hubbard couldn't land in the dense shrub. With weather closing in fast, he hovered 15 meters above the stranded climbers and dropped food, a radio, and instructions. The young men used their knives to fell trees and clear enough space for a cargo net to be lowered.

"They were pretty relieved to get out of there," Hubbard said. "By the time we were ready to come out, the clouds were already closing in."

Why This Inspires

This rescue showcases how preparation, clear thinking, and teamwork can overcome even the most challenging circumstances. The climbers' survival skills and calm decision-making under pressure turned a potential tragedy into a successful rescue story.

Their mothers could only wait and hope while multiple rescue attempts failed due to weather. When Keanu's mother Denise Holl finally spoke with the pair after their rescue, she found them both emotional and remarkably nonchalant about their ordeal.

The friends had looked after each other through six tense days and nights. They're already talking about the footage they captured and the stories they'll tell. What could have ended in disaster became a testament to human resilience and the power of friendship in the face of nature's unpredictability.

These two adventurers are safe, their families can breathe easy, and their Amazon trip is still on.