Ladders For Rescue From Crevasse

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 15

Ladders For Rescue From Crevasse

(New Zealcnd Press Association)

SCOTT BASE, January 28. Special crevasse rescue ladders designed in New Zealand for Antarctic use saved their first life on Thursday. Mr R Hewson, leader and surveyor of the New Zealand Antarctic research programme southern field party this summer, used one of the ladders to escape from a crevasse in the ice after his sledge had broken through the snow bridge which hid it

With three others and two dog teems and sledges. Mr Hewson is completing a mapping and geological survey in the Victoria Land mountains north of Scott base.

On Thursday morning he left camp with a dog sledge and companion, Mr J. Ricker, a geologist, of Vancouver. Only 30 yards from the camp the sledge fell into the hidden crevasse, jamming Mr Ricker against the wall 3ft down.

Mr Hewson, who was riding cm the rear of the sledge was thrown into the crevasse to land on a ledge 30ft down Drivers of the second dog team, Mr D. Skinner, a geologist. of Auckland, and Mr I. Cave, a field assistant, of Wellington, were able to pull Mr Ricker clear and throw the ladder down to Mr Hew-

son. who climbed out safely. “We are all well The ladder was a greet help," Mr Hewson said later in a radio conversation with Scott Base.

The ladders are a modification of those used for caving. Made of steel wire and aluminium, they were designed by Len Wylde, of Hamilton, who is a member of this years New Zealand Antarctic party at Cape Hallett station.

Field party members practised using them on the fire escape of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research office building, Christchurch.