Frost-Bitten Climber Home From Himalayas

Press, Volume C, Issue 29566, 15 July 1961, Page 10

Frost-Bitten Climber Home From Himalayas

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 14. The Himalayan climber, Sub-Lieutenant Peter Mulgrew, returned to Auckland on a stretcher today with his frostbitten hands and feet swathed in bandages. All his toes and the first joints of three fingers and a thumb have been amputated. Sir Edmund Hillary, the leader of the expedition, said the rescue of Sub-Lieutenant Mulgrew, a naval radar specialist, from a height of 27,000 feet on Mount Makalu. was a marvellous -ffort. Never before had an Injured climber been carried to safety from such a height. The injured man was transfered from the aircraft at Whenuapai to a waiting ambulance and taken to the Devonport Naval Hospital He was able to ait up on the stretcher and was in high spirits.

“fro more than glad to be home,” he said. “I hope to stay in the Navy—if they don’t throw me out.” Mrs Mulgrew, who accompanied her husband and Sir Edmund Hillary on the homeward flight, said her husband had picked up a little, but had a long way to go before his health would be fully restored. There had been a marked Improvement since his lung condition had cleared. Sir Edmund Hillary, much thinner than when he left New Zealand UTm a bit skinny, but I’ll soon put some weight on"), said he was fit again after his own illness. He had done considerable walking in the last two months and was in good health. The 10-month expedition in

the Himalayas had not gone quite as was planned, but the final results had been very satisfactory. The scientific findings would be of value, he said. Sir Edmund Hillary will remain in New Zealand until the end of the year and then make a lecture tour of the United States. After that his plans are indefinite.