CLIMBERS' ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20902, 18 June 1931, Page 12

CLIMBERS' ESCAPE.

DANGEROUS GLISSADING.

RUSH DOWN MOUNTAIN SIDE.

ONE RECEIVES BROKEN RIBS.

Two Christchurch climbers, Messrs. H. M'D. Vincent and F. Hinton, who somersaulted and rolled more than 500 yds. down a mountain side while descending from a. peak near Arthur's Pass on Sunday, had a fortunate escape from death. Mr. Vincent had ribto broken. His right knee was wrenched and his left thumb was dislocated. Mr. Hinton was severely bruised, and both suffered considerably from shock.

The two men wore members of a party of four Christchurch journalists, who left Arthur's Pass at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday to climb Avalanche Peak. They reached the summit shortly after noon and began to come down by the ridge that leads right up to the top of the peak. The party came to a steep snowfield and Mr. Vincent commenced to glissade, Mr. Hinton following. Both men struck a patch of ice. The axes, with which they were steadying themselves, slipped from, their grasp and they began to slide and roll down the steep slope.

They stopped rolling after, more than 500 yds. and, to the horror of the other two members of the party, who were still watching from above, lay motionless. The other two men hurried down to where their comrades lay. They soon regained consciousness and began the long and painful walk back to the pass. After struggling along for about an hour, the party met Dr. Wyn-Irwin, who gave assistance and helped the injured men. down to Coberger's shop.. The excursion train for Christchurch. was held for twenty minutes while the climbers received attention.

Mr. Vincent was put on a stretcher in the guard's van.'

Members qf the-party are unanimous in their opinion that the two'men had a most fortunate escape from death. It is considered that both of them struck rock in the course tif their fall.