Helicopter rescue

A member of staff from the Hermitage Hotel at Mt Cook had to be picked up by helicopter from an area around Mt Sebastapol after ‘‘getting out of his depth’’ on Tuesday evening. Department of Conservation (DOC) senior ranger Shirley Slatter said the man had climbed ‘‘reasonably high up as I understand’’ in the area around the summit, ’’got out of his depth and couldn’t descend’’. He dialled 111, and with weather ‘‘getting quite cold towards the end of the day’’ the decision was made to send a helicopter used by DOC for rescues. The man suffered no injuries as a result of the ordeal, she said.