Tourist falls into boiling mud

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 1

Tourist falls into boiling mud

PA New Plymouth An Australian tramper, was reported to be comfortable in Taupo Hospital last evening after stepping tbrough brittle ground into boiling mud at Ketetahi Springs in the Tongariro National Park yesterday. Simon Green, of Adelaide, sank up to his hip and has second degree burns. .

He was taken to Taupo Hospital by helicopter. Mr Green was exploring near the fumaroles, boiling mud and water pools, on the eastern side of Mount Tongariro about liinchtime when he stepped on what he thought was stable ground. ; < - It turned out to be just a crust of earth and his leg sank into the boiling mud underneath. /Mr Green ran, with painful bums, several hundred metres across nigged track and ' tussock to immerse his leg in one of the mountain streams. A Ketetahi Hut warden, Mr Sean Bellamy, ' was summoned by other trampers in the area'and soon arrived with first aid <gear and a radio-tele-phone.

Park headquarters then called in a rescue helicopter piloted by Mr John Fennell, - Arid . Mr. r .Gße®i was taken to Taupo? Hospital. ■■■■■■ • The park’s senior ranger, Mr, Graeme gerous area advise people *away. The temperature of,the water, steam, and mud is extremely hot—comparable with steam at "the Wairakei thermal field at Taupo,” said Mr Ayres.. • It was the fourth serious accident in the park this summer. Fine, weather had brought many visitors, he said. “