Woman’s rescue delayed by bad weather

Press, 10 January 1986, Page 4

Woman’s rescue delayed by bad weather

PA Timaru A rescue helicopter plucked three male climbers from Copeland Pass in the Mount Cook National Park last evening but had to leave behind an injured woman. Rescuers say bad weather stranded Marion Adair Williams, aged 44, for the night on the 2149-metre pass. A rescue helicopter flown by Mr Ron Small, of Lake Tekapo, managed to snatch up three of four Timaru people who fell at the top of the pass, 10 hours after their 45-metre fall. However, the weather closed in again and Mr Small had to take off after just one minute’s loading, even though there was room for the woman.

However, four rescuers from the park headquarters stayed behind with her and she was in a comfortable condition.

Constable Bill Apes, of Lake Tekapo, said Mrs Williams was suffering from a cut on her upper leg and was thought to have broken a shoulder. Those to be lifted to safety were Mr Derek Beynon, aged 43, a builder; ins son, Mark, aged 19, a foundry worker; and Darren

Sanderson, aged 19, a refrigeration engineer. Mr Apes said the four were roped together when one slipped on a snow slope. “Another in the party slipped, and the two remaining could not hold on,” he said.” All four slipped down an incline on to rocks. The fall could have been about 50 yards (45m).” Mr Apes said Derek Beynon suffered a moderate head injury, while his son suffered a head injury and an injury to a lower leg. Mr Sanderson was not injured. The alarm was raised at 10.52 a.m. by a party following about an hour behind, and the rescue helicopter was called in. Cloud and wind prevented a rescue attempt, but early in the afternoon two rescuers were able to be dropped off near the climbers. Two other rescuers walked into the area. Mr Small was not able to get over the top of the pass to make a rescue attempt until 7 p.m. “The weather cleared sufficiently for the helicopter to reach the party, but only three people could be taken on board before the weather closed in again,” Mr Apes said.