FALL DOWN ROCKY FACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 6

FALL DOWN ROCKY FACE

Mishap in Mt. Cook Region Doctor Flies To Alpine Accident Rescue Party Out All Night FAIRLIE, January 21. Two members of a tramping party, Miss Ngaire Begg and Mr J. Estall, both of Christchurch, were injured when they slipped on a rocky face near the Graham Saddle in the Mount Cook region on Friday. To rescue the injured: A doctor flew from Timaru to the Hermitage on Friday night; A party of 16 spent the night tramping to De la Beche from the Hermitage; Stretcher bearers toiled over the rought territory for almost eight hours bringing them from De ia Beche to the Ball Hut; and An aeroplane was commissioned to take them to a Christchurch Hospital.

Miss Begg received injuries about the face, and was unable to walk because of a back injury. She suffered from shock and was severely shaken. Estell received cuts and bruises and was also shaken and shocked. The third member of the party was Mr W. Vaughan of Christchurch. The party was independent of the tourist authorities at Mt. Cook, and it is understood that they were members of the Christchurch Tramping Club. They had left the Hermitage to go to the Graham Saddle and it is believed that one of the injured persons slipped on the rocks near the hut at De )a Beche clutching the other to stop falling'. Vaughan was not in the vicinity at the time of the accident. After Miss Begg and Estall were discovered the Hermitage was advised of the accident and arrangements were made to bring the Injured to hospital. The Mt. Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Coy's, plane at Timaru was used to transport Dr. T. C. Maling to the Hermitage. He landed there at 9.15 p.m. Cars were taken to the landing to illuminate the field for the plane. At 10.30 a party of 16 set out from the Hermitage for De la Beche. They left the Ball Hut at midnight and arrived at the De la Beche Hut at 3.45 yesterday morning. Dr. Maling attended to the injured as best he could under the circumstances. Miss Begg's face was badly cut and several stitches were required. The party left the hut at 5.50 a.m. and began its weary tramp to the Ball Hut carrying Miss Begg on a stretcher. They arrived at the Ball Hut at 1.30 yesterday afternoon and the journey to the Hermitage was finished in cars. Miss Begg and Estall were later put aboard the plane and flown to Christchurch where they entered a hospital.