Weather prevents glacier rescue

By JEFF TOLLAN - The Timaru Herald

Another attempt will be made this morning to rescue a climber, thought to have a collapsed lung, after difficult weather in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park yesterday forced him to spend last night in a hut.

The 34-year-old man was among a group on an instruction course and is at Kelman Hut, at the head of the Tasman Glacier. It is not known where he is from.

Department of Conservation ranger Ray Bellringer said the alarm was raised about 12.20pm yesterday, but nor'west winds prevented any air rescue.

"They [course participants] had been out doing some stuff during the morning and came back into the hut and that's when we were notified.

"It seems like, from the diagnosis that we've made, he has a collapsed lung. It just happens to certain thin males; it can happen spontaneously.

"He is not in immediate danger, but it is a serious situation."

Yesterday, an attempt was going to be made to stretcher the man down the glacier to a point where a helicopter could reach him, but Mr Bellringer said that after seeking medical advice, it was decided the hut was the best place for the man.

"He's in some pain, but they're controlling that. They've got some pain relief and our crew have more pain relief."

About 3.30pm yesterday, two search and rescue members carrying the extra pain relief and oxygen, were dropped off by helicopter about two hours' walk from the hut. They were expected to reach the man about 5.30pm.

By that time, it was too late to extract the man, even if the winds dropped, Mr Bellringer said.

"We will have a look at the conditions at first light."

But even if a helicopter was unable to reach the hut today, time would be on the side of the rescuers and could allow for other options to be used, Mr Bellringer added.

"If the weather's bad in the morning there's a possibility our crew would make a decision to sledge him down the glacier to somewhere like Darwin Corner [about 5km from the hut]."

From there, a helicopter would be able to extract him.

Mr Bellringer said there were three groups of five people in the hut, including the injured man.