Search waste leads to call for radios

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34133, 21 April 1976, Page 14

Search waste leads to call for radios

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, April 20. Climbers and trampers should carry with them into the mountains a radio capable of reaching Christchurch so that pointless rescue efforts would not be made if they w’ere delayed. Inspector B. D. Read, of the Timaru police, said tonight. Commenting on the “unnecessary, time-consuming” search for two Lincoln College students who todaywalked out of the Huxley Gorge area virtually into the; arms of searchers, Inspector; [Read said that five minutes! 'after arrangements had been made to have an Air Force helicopter sent from Wigram. a message had been received from the Huxley [Gorge station saying that the missing men were safe. A total of about 90-man [hours had been Jos’. If people carried a portable radio, it would simplify the task of the police and relieve anxiety if it were known that climbers had been delayed, said Mr Read. The two men for • whom the search was mounted failed to return as expected early from an ascent of Mount Ward (8675 ft on Saturday. The men had had a minor fall and suffered some minor bruising. This slowed their [progress. Descending Mount Ward. | they decided to bivouac on i Sunday night. They also ; spent Monday night" in the 'open because of the danger ;of moving in the dark. Footprints. believed to 'have been those of the two 'men, were sighted on the

Elcho Glacier below Mount Ward from a light aircraft this morning. The men are Christopher Longsen, aged 25, who has had about seven years climbing experience in the Southern Alps, and Darney Stephenson, aged 23.

Inspector Read said that in the first place a party of nine climbers had entered the area. Two had returned to Christchurch, leaving five who had remained in the Hopkins River area near the Elcho hut to assist in the search.