Glacier Tragedy

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 43, 21 February 1938, Page 8

Glacier Tragedy

Young Alpinist Killed <3RIM STRUGGLE OF COMPANION CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 19. Per Press Association. Patrick Carroll, aged 22, of Greymouth. was killed on the Rudolph Glacier, Southern Alps. Mr Carroll, who acompanied by Mr Ronald Gunn, guide at the Fox Glacier, slipped on an ice face on Friday of last week and died from his injuries the following day. Painfully struggling back through the snow to the de la Beche Hut, Mr Gunn, who was suffering from concussion and exhaustion, gasped out a few scanty details of the tragedy to a search party which located him yesterday.

On February 7 Messrs Carroll and Gunn and the Rev. Dr. Walshe, of Wellington, left Weheka and crossed Copland Pass to the Hermitage. They arrived safely two days later, and then Messrs Carroll and Gunn decided to complete the round try by returning to the coast over Graham’s Saddle. It was on Thursday of last week that Messrs Carroll and Gunn set out from the Hermitage on the first stage of their journey back to the coast. They arrived at de la Beche Hut on the same? day, and the next morning they left the hut to go over Graham’s Saddle. Then tragedy intervened. The two young men slipped on an ice face ion-’ the Rudolph Glacier, Graham’s Saddle. Mr Gunn escaped comparatively lightly with concussion, shock and a bad shaking. Mr Carroll’s injuries were more serious, and the next day, Saturday of last week, he died. Sick, injured and barely conscious. Mr Gunn commenced the laborious and painful trip back to de la Beche JKut. The details of what must have been a nightmare trip were not fully available to-day, but it has been definitely established that it was not until Monday of this week that Mr Gunn reached the hut

Meanwhile, anxiety for the safety of the two men had grown, and a search party was sent out from the Hermitage yesterday. The party reached the hut and found Mr Gunn badly shaken and in an advanced stage of exhaustion. The search party, led by Mr C. F. Elmes, manager of the Hermitage and Mr M. Bowie, chief guide, left the Hermitage to-day in an endeavour to locate and bring in Mr Carroll’s body. Mr Carroll was single. He was a native of Reefton and was educated at the Marist Brothers’ School, Greymoutb and St. Bede’s College. He was a keen mountaineer and a foundation member of the Coast Alpine Club. He is survived by his parents and two sisters.