Rescued climbers get new feet today

Press, 10 January 1983, Page 1

Rescued climbers get new feet today

The two climbers whose frost-bitten feet were amputated will stand upright today for the first time since their rescue from Mount Cook six weeks ago. However, it will be several days before they take their first steps on artificial limbs, and several months before their. rehabilitation is complete. . Mark Inglis, aged 23, and Philip Doole, aged 25, have had temporary artificial limbs fitted after both had their feet amputated on Christmas Eve. Staff at Burwood Hospital had fought for a month to save them before it was decided they had been irretrievably damaged during the 14 days the climbers

were trapped in a snow cave near Mount Cook’s summit. The manager of the Artifical Limb Centre in Riccarton, Mr C. E. W. Went, said the temporary limbs, plaster casts with adjustable metal jigs, were only meant to contain swelling. . “Today all they will be doing is standing up, nothing more,” he said. Mr Went said the pair appeared “quite happy” and keen to start climbing again but that would be several months away; At the end of the week, the climbers could possibly be walking, but with parallel bars or crutches supporting most of their weight. Permament artificial limbs, made

of fibreglass, would be fitted 14 days from now. “We have men who tramp through the bush and climb small hills,” said Mr Went. However, most of those cases referred were single limb amputees and the loss of both feet would make it more difficult for Messrs Inglis and Doole. “In 90 per cent of cases, three months is all they need,” he said, “but the limitation is really on them.” If the men wanted to tackle more ambitious climbs, they would probably need additional support, such as a corset strapped round the thighs to hold their knees, he said.