Exhausted Man Rescued On Mount Egmont

Press, Volume C, Issue 29696, 14 December 1961, Page 20

Exhausted Man Rescued On Mount Egmont

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, December 13. "I would like to make another attempt to climb the mountain on a day when I could get a clear view,” said a 57-year-old Australian teacher, Mr Norman Kelly, soon after he had been rescued from near death on the northern slopes of Mount Egmont this morning. Suffering from exposure and almost frozen stiff, Mr Kelly was found by a twoman rescue party just before 6 a.m. clinging precariously to a rocky ledge near the summit, where he had spent the night. His rescue ended a ninehour search by more than 20 members of the Taranaki Search and Rescue Organisation, many of whom had spent all night scouring the mountainside. Their efforts had been hampered by heavy rain and gale force winds, which did not stop until nearly 3 a.m. It was the biggest search on Mount Egmont for more than three years. Besides the climbers, police, radio operators and flrat-aid men had taken part. Broken Contract Mr Kelly told a reporter that he had indeed broken his contract by going further than the lizard (8075 feet). "I know I signed the book to the effect that I would not pass the snowline, but the day looked so clear that I thought I would have plenty of time to reach the summit and make the return journey," he said. ‘‘l am terribly sorry for all the trouble I have caused, and I don't know how to thank all these wonderful people,” he said. “The average man would have died after a night like that,” said the search controller of the Taranaki Search and Rescue Organisation (Mr D. Dawson) at New Plymouth today. "Solo climbing is particularly dangerous.” Mr Rawson controlled the all-night search from a camp established at Tahurangi Hut. _____

Considerable difficulty was experienced in establishing radio communication with the hut during the fierce storm which raged on the mountain during the night and at one stage no communication was made for more than an hour Numb With Cold Drenched and numb with cold, Mr Kelly was found huddled on a rocky ledge near the summit. He was brought to safety in a weak and distressed condition. Mr Kelly, who was attired in a windcheater, trousers, and climbing sihoes, had climbed with the assistance of a stick to the summit. "There was no rain and I thought I could get back,” said Mr Kelly. “At 5.45 p.m. ligiht rain started and mist shrouded the mountain. “The rain swept in from the north and I built a rock shelter about a quarter of a mile from the Shark's tooth. “About midnight the rain became heavier and bitterly cold; the wind changed direction to the south. “I was feeling really depressed and seriously ill and was prepared to die. Eight days ago I had vaccination injections as my sister and I plan to travel home to Brisbane on Friday and later go further abroad. “I thought I would never survive and I kept moving my hands and legs to maintain blood circulation. The rain kept pouring down but I managed to sleep for half an hour.” “About 4.15 am. the rain stopped and I started the descent," said Mr Kelly. “I had nothing to cut a path with and I started slipping and sliding so I climbed back to some rocks. “I was now too weak to do anything and I called out ‘cooee, cooee'. I thought I had had it,” he said. Heard Calls Two members of the Taranaki Alpine Chib heard Mr Kelly’s faint calls. One of them, Mr Rhodes said they answered the call and then heard Mr Kelly

slipping on the rocks. They called out for him not to move. "When we reached him about 4.50 aim, he stretched out his hand and said, 'Pleased to meet you.’ His hand felt like a pneumatic drill." said Mr Rhodes. “He was very stiff and shivering violently so we gave him three cups of tea. a sandwich and a cake. We then decided to move him down the mountain by rope so he could get his circulation back. "After travelling about 50ft he was still very stiff so we decided to stop. We took off his clothes, dried him and gave him warm clothes,” he said. Mr Rhodes said they had then continued the descent and at Drinking Rock <s7ooft) met another party. "The searchers looked after me like a sick brother and I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience I have caused.” said Mr Kelly. He and his sister, Miss B. Kelly, will leave New Plymouth on Friday for Wellington, where they will board a liner for Australia. Mr Kelly, a keen botanist, has been teaching science and mathematics at the Correspondence School, Wellington. Miss Kelly la a violinist.