Injured youth flown out

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32801, 29 December 1971, Page 1

Injured youth flown out

A youth injured in the second of two climbing accidents at Arthur’s Pass on Monday was flown by helicopter to Christchurch yesterday morning. He is James Lagan, aged 18, of 34 Puriri Street, Riccarton, who suffered leg and facial injuries. He was in a satisfactory condition in Christchurch Hospital last evening. Mr Lagan apparently lost his footing and fell over a cliff near the Dudley Knob on the Mingha River. His companion, Robin Versteeg, of 299 Eastern Terrace, Sydenham, tramped out to tell the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board rangers of the accident. A party of six rangers reached Mr Lagan about 10.10

p.m. on Monday and stayed with him until he was picked up by the helicopter. The helicopter set out from Christchurch about 4.45 yesterday morning to pick up Mr Lagan. He was winched aboard the helicopter as it hovered overhead and arrived at Hagley Park about 6.20 a.m. Earlier on Monday, Miss Victoria Blair, of 39 Marion Street, Hoon Hay, was flown out of the Arthur’s Pass area after a fall on the Pyramid in the Hawdon Valley. Her condition in the Christchurch Hospital last evening was described as fairly comfortable. The photograph shows Mr Lagan being carried from the helicopter in Hagley Park.