Daring rescue by helicopter

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33492, 25 March 1974, Page 12

Daring rescue by helicopter

'Neu? Zealand Press Assoi lation) INVERCARGILL. March 24. A helicopter pilot used a basket suspended beneath his aircraft in a daring manoeuvre to rescue an injured climber and his companion from a Fiordland cliff face early today.

The injured man. Kenneth Calder, aged 21, of Dunedin, and two other climbers were at an altitude of 6400 ft on a face at Mistake Creek, off the eastern face of Flat Top (near Cascade Creek), when a falling rock deeply gashed Mt \ Calder’s leg. One of the climbers went! to Cascade Creek for help, I the other remaining with Mr Calder. When the police at Te Anau were notified, the light

■ was too poor for a helicopter flight. I At first light today a helicopter piloted by Mr W J Black, of Te Anau. and earn - ing the chief ranger of the ' Fiordland National Park (Mr |H. Jacobs), flew to the face The helicopter manoeuvred I until the two mountaineers .were able to climb into the basket. They were then flown to Te Anaii. Mr Calder was given medical attention, and the three I men left soon after for Dun I edin. i Constable M. McLaren, of Te Anau, said that it was a I very dangerous manoeuvre for the helicopter, but was skilfully accomplished. All three men were experienced mountaineers, but the face had been climbed only once before. They were not very far from the ton when the accident occurred, said Constable McLaren.