CLIMBERS IN PERIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 8

CLIMBERS IN PERIL.

TWO; MEN LOSE FOOTHOLDS.

SLUMS DOWN MOUNT EGMONT

ICE SLOPES.

BOTH IN HOSPITAL,

(ByTelegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

Losing their footholds high on Mount EgmoiJVs ice slope, two men slid helplessly for several hundred feet before coniinr rudely to rest at different points yesterjlay afternoon. In each case escape> from death was a marvellous featuirte.

Gordon Irving, bank clerk, of Stratford, succeeded in clutching a climber from ';Kaponga with nailess boots and saving him from sliding down the ice face. Mr. Irving's splendid effort caused the rescuer himself to slip and suffer a slide "that bristled with peril. He slid breathlessly for a distance of 400 feet down ißie rock-studded ice face, 200 feet from tihe mountain top, crashing into a rock <ju the southern side before coming to rest}.

Mr- H. Martin,,of New Plymouth, and Mr. G. Fookes, of Wellington, with two Kapoiiga men, laboriously assisted Mr. Irving' to the Stratford Hospital, where his in juries were revealed to be severe shock, and extensive bruises and abrasions. His condition last night was reported: to be satisfactory.

Tlim second misadventure involved Mr. W. Carman, of Stratford, in an ice slide for 300 feet down the eastern side of the mountain and a fall into Kapuhi He hurtled like a ninepin, the breatfh. being beaten from his body, and he-Was rescued by means of ropes from his perilous position on the terrace of Gorge. ,

Mj.\ Carman was brought to Stratford Moqjiajn House, where he received attention from Dr. Doris Gordon, and he is BO'tf in a private hospital at Stratford with, bruises, shock and abrasions. It is Ofiot known whether any bones are broken. His condition last night was satil-factory. Mr. Carman states that he slipped when descending Curtis Eidge.