Girl's Gallant Tramp For Help

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 14

Girl's Gallant Tramp For Help

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, November 19. Help was brought to two injured climbers in the south Huxley valley tonight after a Dunedin student, Patricia Walsh, had tramped 14 miles through the night, and across dangerously swollen rivers, to give the alarm.

Injured men, John Moodie and lan Mclvor, both students from Dunedin, were not seriously hurt but needed assistance covering the rough country to Huxley station. The six-strong climbing party were all members of the University of Otago Tramping Club, who were making the trip after finishing their examinations. Patricia Walsh, aged 21, a science student, and daughter of Sir John Walsh and Lady Walsh, was exhausted after her gruelling night trip from the scene of the accident to Huxley station. “She did a fantastic job,” said a member of the search. Mr Barry Eames, of the Ohau Lodge. “The rivers were colossal— I don’t know how she did it,” he said. “She walked with us back up the vaiiey—and kept up with us today,” he said.

The accident occurred on Tuesday about noon when three members of the party fell while climbing. A police party of about 18 went into the area today headed by Constables R. E. Osborne and J. Lester, of Otematata.