INQUEST ON DEATH OF CLIMBER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 8

INQUEST ON DEATH OF CLIMBER

(From Our Own Reporter/ TIMARU. March 15. Neil Blundell Lane, aged 19, a university student, of 11 Malcolm avenue, Christchurch, died on Mount Elie de Beaumont, on December 7, 1966, from Injuries of chest and spine, suffered when he slipped and fell off a ridge. This verdict was returned by the Timaru District Coroner (Mr E. G. Bradley) today. Evidence as to cause of death was given by Dr. L. A. Faigan, pathologist at the Timaru Hospital.

Christopher lan Timms, aged 19, of 5 Tensing place, Christchurch, said that he and Lane, with two others, left the Tasman hut at 3.15 a.n>. on December 7 to climb Mount Elie de Beaumont (10.200 ft) at the head of the Tasman Valley. Witness was climbing with Lane, and both were roped together. Lane was leading. The other two were in front, and he and Lane followed in their ice steps. About 9500 feet they must have fallen, but he was unable to remember what happened. James Norman Jolly, aged 22. of 9 Carlton Mill road. Christchurch. a student at the University of Canterbury, said he was climbing with Bill Grout, an American. They had reached about 9500 feet when he saw Lane and Timms sliding down the side of the ridge, then one of them went out of sight. After climbing Into a safe position, witness and Grout had signalled and shouted to two other climbers who were nearby, and no doubt had also seen them sliding. ”1 estimated they had fallen about 500 feet.” Jolly added.

"We arrived where the two climbers had come to rest, and the other two independent climbers were at the scene. Lane was dead and Timms was about 10 feet from him. We made Timms comfortable, and Grout went with one of the others to radio for assistance from the Tasman hut. The weather was fine, and the ridge on which we were climbing was not hard ice,” said Jolly. Constable J. W. Lester, of Lake Tekapo, gave evidence of rescue operations and the evacuation

of the injured man, and Lane s body, by helicopter. The party had reasonable climbing experience, said Constable Lester. DEERSTALKER SHOT

An adjourned Inquest was held into the death of David Leslie Mills, aged 22, a glazier, of 50 Williamson avenue, Grey Lynn. Auckland, an Australian who had been living in New Zealand for two years. The Coroner found, in accordance with medical evidence, that Mills died at Bush Creek from shock, hemorrhage and tension pneumothorax due to his having been accidentally shot in the chest. In previous evidence. Kurt Thaler, aged 27, a stonemason, of the same address, who arrived in New Zealand from Austria about eight months ago. said he and Mills arrived at Bush Creek hut on January 1(Bush stream is about 10 miles from The Hermitage on the Pukaki-Hermitage Stat* High way.) Witness said they started to walk up the Bush 'Creek river, and began to climb. The fog was hanging round the tops of the mountains, and the sun was not visible. He spotted several sheep running in the same direction as he was walking, but further up the face, in front of the sheep, was a hind, which was about 300 yards away, and just going over a ridge out of sight. "I ran after the hind to the top of the ridge. When I reached the top I could see the back of the hind disappear in the bush. I took alm and fired," said Thaler. After shooting he heard a scream and then silence. ”1 immediately knew it was not the hind I had shot. I dropped everything and ran down the bank over the creek and up the other side and saw Mills just inside the bush lying face down. He was not moving.” said the witness. Thaler said he cut all the gear from round Mills’* neck. He was sure he was dead. He made his rifle safe, then went for help. "David had a khaki bag and I his yellow sleeping bag cover jon his bag, which just looked like the rear end of th* hind.” I said Thaler.