Snow hampers man’s rescue

Press, 14 March 1977, Page 1

Snow hampers man’s rescue

Timaru reporter

Snow to low levels prevented a search party from ascertaining yesterday whether a young man who fell some distance on to the Boys Glacier, in the Mount Cook area, on Saturday evening was alive or dead. A search by helicopter will be resumed at first light today if conditions are good. The turbulence in the search area yesterday was such that the pilot of an R.N.Z.A.F. Iroquois helicopter was unable to approach closely, according to the chief ranger at Mount Cook National Park (Mr B. W. Thomas). No movement, however, was seen.

This, coupled with the fact that the weather had immobilised the search party, lessened any chances of the man’s survival, Mr Thomas said. The man’s name has not

yet been released. He and

two companions, Christine

McFarland, of Palmerston, and Richard Brent, of Dunedin. were traversing a high rock ridge above the Boys Glacier, by way of Anzac Peak, about 8 p.m. on Saturday when the accident occurred. The three climbers were on their way from the Ball Hut to the Plateau Hut. After the initial helicopter search by' Flying Officer M. Fort, a ground party’ led by the senior ranger at Mount Cook (Mr C. S. Irwin) continued the search. It was snowing heavily, and the men had to move down to a position from which they could be picked up by helicopter. The group, which was still

some distance from the missing man. eventually decided to descend on foot to park headquarters. “It was just as well, because the Iroquois was unable to return for them."

Mr Thomas said. The ground party arrived at park headquarters at 6 p.m. yesterday.

A radio call from the Plateau Hut reporting the accident was received at 8.30 a.m. yesterday The search party left park headquarters at 10 a.m. for the Ball Hut, and the Iroquois helicopter was called from Wigram to support it. The helicopter arrived at 12.15 p.m.

About an hour later, it found the missing climber, who was lying on rock and scree below a rock face and beneath the ridge from which he had fallen. But because of turbulence and the length of winch, it was not possible to reach him. The climber’s companions. who reached the Plateau Hut about midnight on Saturday, are still there.