One climber killed, another hurt in fall
Seven Sharp One tramper died near Arthur’s Pass and another was airlifted out to Franz Josef Glacier after t wo separate backcountry accidents.
A Christchurch man died on Thursday after falling on Mt Harper. His companion set off a beacon to summon help from the head of the Waimakariri River about 4.30pm when the man did not return from a day trip climbing Mt Harper in the Arthur’s Pass National Park.
A rescue helicopter was sent and crew spoke to the victim’s tramping companion and then flew around the area. They saw what they thought was a body but were unable to reach it.
It appeared the man had fallen a considerable distance.
His companion was flown back to Arthur’s Pass village.
Constable Philip Simmonds, of Arthur’s Pass, said that until the body was retrieved and identified and next of kin were informed, police would not identify the man.
The NZCC Rescue Helicopter was sent up to recover the body, but while waiting for the cloud to clear it was diverted to another tramping accident behind Franz Josef.
The Rescue Co- ordination Centre said the patient was part of a group of four. It was not immediately clear where they were from but the man had numerous broken bones after falling on Mt Elie de Beaumont.
The weather prevented the helicopter from reaching him on Thursday night but a team from DoC’s Mt Cook Alpine Cliff Rescue reached the accident site yesterday morning, stabilised the victim and brought him out on a Helicopter Line machine.
Senior Sergeant Antony Callon said the man had fallen off an alpine glacier.
Rescue helicopter pilot Angus Taylor said the man’s injuries appeared “reasonably serious”.
The Greymouth- based helicopter later headed back to Arthur’s Pass to recover the body of the other climber. Police were working to formally identify the body and liaising with next of kin. The death has been referred to the coroner.