Chopper rescues injured climber

Two climbers have been rescued from Nelson Lakes National Park after one was injured while they were descending a mountain.

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter got the callout about 4pm on Tuesday, after the climbers activated their emergency locator beacon.

The incident took place on Mt Franklin, 15 kilometres south of Lake Rotoroa, which is 2340 metres high. It is part of the Franklin Ridge at the northern end of the St James Range.

Rescue helicopter pilot Barry McAuliffe said the climbers were on their way down the mountain when they set off their beacon.

He said a 42-year-old climber from Wellington suffered a lower leg injury about 1500m up the mountain and had been unable to continue.

The climbers had been travelling towards Blue Lake, and the injured man was hurt while negotiating a steep chute covered in snow and ice.

McAuliffe said that due to the very steep terrain, it was difficult to pick up the position of the beacon.

‘‘It made it a bit harder to track – the signal bounces around and can give you erroneous directions.’’

The climbers were winched off the side of the mountain, with the injured man being taken to Nelson Hospital about 6.15pm.

A Nelson Hospital spokesperson said the climber was treated and discharged yesterday.