Men stranded on ledge

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33463, 19 February 1974, Page 14

Men stranded on ledge

(Hew Zealand Preu Atioetation) INVERCARGILL, February 18. A helicopter plucked three comfany executives from a cliff face in iordland today after they became stranded and sent out smoke signals to draw attention to their plight.

The men, all executives of Fiordland Travel, Ltd. were stranded on a ledge for about two hours.

They lit a fire this afternoon and the smoke was noticed about 3 pjn. at Lake Manapouri about five miles

away. The men are Mr Robert William Stannard, aged 47, of Wellington, the company's advisory director, Les Hutchins, aged 49. of Manapouri. the managing director, and David Patrick Gribbin, aged 33, of Manapouri, head of the engineering division. The men were described by Constable B. Reid, of Te Anau, as experienced climbers.

They left on Saturdav morning to attempt to travel from the Oonah Bum, near the west arm of Lake Mana-

pouri, to the Awe Bum, near the north arm of the lake. They became trapped on Sunday afternoon trying to negotiate a series of bluffs. Although the ledge where the men spent the night was about 3500 ft above sea level, ■ the weather was good and I they suffered no real discomfort.

They had already spent Saturday night in the open as planned but had intended to return to Manapouri on Sunday night. They were due to attend ■ a company meeting today, ■ but the meeting has been postponed until tomorrow.