Coroner Warns Of Dangers In Alps

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 3

Coroner Warns Of Dangers In Alps

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, March 19.

“The fact that more lives were not lost in these tragedies is purely fortuitous,” said the Timaru District Coroner (Mr E. G. Bradley) referring to five recent deaths in the Mt. Cook region of the Southern Alps, when he completed two inquests and adjourned another at a sitting of the Coroner’s Court held at the Mt. Cook National Park Board headquarters today.

The inquests concerned the deaths of Miss Anthea Georgina Northfield, aged 34, a teacher, of New Plymouth, daughter of the Rev. Herbert and Gladys Northfield, of Birmingham, England, who died on the snow-swept Sealy range on January 17, 1964; two University of Canterbury students, Alan John Cousins, aged 25, of Wellington, and Michael Drayton Goldsmith, aged 22, a son of the Rev. and Mrs C. J. Goldsmith, of Timaru, who died on the Caroline face of Mount Cook early in November; two Swiss, Edward Kunz, married, and August Nanser, single, both of Christchurch, who were lost on the east ridge of Mount Cook on or about December 28, 1963. The body of Miss Northfield was the only one recovered. “While it is doubtful whether any ban on climbing in dangerous areas would be

desirable or effective, nevertheless it seems that some climbers do not fully appreciate that in choosing to risk their own lives they may be the cause of others sent to search for them being put in the position of risking their lives also,” said the Coroner.

The Coroner commented that it was a matter of some concern that, as the chief ranger to the Mount Cook Board (Mr M. L. Burke) said in his evidence, his staff “has spent about 1000 hours in rescue work this season concerning these tragedies and other mishaps.” The Coroner paid tribute to members of search parties who, in atrocious weather, had made every effort to rescue or recover the climbers’ bodies.

The findings were:— Miss Northfield died from exhaustion and exposure after she had spent the night in a snowstorm while mountaineering on the Sealy range. Kunz and Hanser died while mountaineering on the East ridge of Mount Cook, the exact cause of death being unknown.

The inquest into the deaths of Goldsmith and Cousins was adjourned for completion at Timaru.

Referring to the Kunz and Hanser deaths, Mr Burke had this to say: “I feel that if climbers were to discuss their plans fully with rangers before embarking on their climbs it would materially assist in avoiding accidents.”