New Zealand search and rescue teams found six Australian climbers alive yesterday after they were trapped for two days in a blizzard in Mount Cook National park, officials said.
The tourists were found in the Metelille Glacier area of Mount Cook in the South Island after a break in the severe weather allowed a helicopter to hone in on the group’s emergency distress beacon.
“The four men and two women had been in freezing conditions but are believed to be well,” rescue co-ordination center spokesman Ross Henderson said.
The climbers were picked up by helicopter and returned the Mount Cook village base, the center said in a statement later.
“All have been checked by medical staff and are well with no injuries,” Henderson said.
Henderson says their condition after almost two days in blizzard conditions was remarkable and they were in good spirits.
The rescue center detected a distress beacon signal late on Thursday night and launched a search and rescue operation involving more than 20 people.
But an avalanche warning and heavy snow hampered their efforts and fears were growing for the group, believed to be from Sydney.
The climbers, aged between 30 and 45, had stayed at a Mount Cook Village hostel before setting out last Saturday and had recorded their intention to walk in the area without an expert guide.
Alpine Guides owner Bryan Carter, who was involved in the rescue effort, said the area where they had been climbing struck atrocious weather.
“Avalanche conditions deteriorated during their climb, that’s not uncommon, and there was substantial snowfall for about 36 hours,” Carter said. “The climb was on relatively moderate terrain and I don’t think the group had been reckless, they were carrying a range of equipment appropriate to the conditions.”
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