Crimeline: “Very, very lucky” climber rescued after tumbling almost 300m
“Very, very lucky” climber rescued after tumbling almost 300m
A climber who fell between 200m and 300m off a ledge down a very steep, rocky face while descending Mount Aspiring in darkness on Tuesday evening is “very, very lucky to be alive”, rescuers say.
Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team coordinator Russ Tilsley says two men who’d climbed the south face that day were descending another route when one climber fell off a ridge down the steep, rocky slope. “It was dark and his climbing partner thought he’d died in the fall,” Tilsley says. The man who’d fallen had their personal locator beacon in his pack and with no phone coverage the other climber climbed more than three hours towards the summit to raise the alarm just after 9.30pm, reporting that his friend had likely died, he says.
With the weather diminishing rapidly Police launched a search and rescue operation with Otago Lakes SAR and Heli Otago, calling in the Queenstown alpine specialists around 10pm.
“When our guys flew in around midnight, they saw the head torch of the guy on the summit. The pilot flew to the hut first to offload a couple of the guys for lighter weight when the guys noticed another head torch on the glacier below,” Tilsley says. They picked up the companion off the summit and flew back: “This guy who’d fallen was wandering around dazed and confused. He’d taken quite a tumble and had a head injury.”
Tilsely says he was short roped down the steep slope to safety.
It was 1am before both men were rescued.
Wanaka Sergeant Darren Cranfield says the companion had climbed in difficult alpine terrain in search of reception, also becoming increasingly at risk of hypothermia. “This was a complex and dynamic operation where two lives were at risk,” he says.
The men were very close to the same steep slope known as The Ramp where the Wakatipu team rescued two bluffed climbers about a month ago in a very technical operation.
“The south face of Aspiring is a challenging and technical climb,” Tilsley says. “We understand they were quite experienced, but phone reception was broken and it was windy. We didn’t really even know where this guy was.”
It was a 6-hour rescue job, thankfully with a great outcome for Police and rescuers, who are warning people to be aware of the conditions, carry good communications and leave plenty of time.
"We encourage anyone heading into alpine areas to thoroughly prepare, carry appropriate communication equipment and emergency supplies, and ensure they have a plan in place should the unexpected occur," Cranfield says.
Sixteen assessed after bus overturns on Glenorchy Road
The passengers, believed to be tourists, and driver of a 22-seater tourist coach that flipped on its side on the Glenorchy Road early on Tuesday, 28 July, escaped with only a few being treated for minor cuts and grazes, Police say.
Wilkinson says the accident occurred at about 9am and the road was closed until about midday as the Mitsubishi Fuso coach, blocking both lanes, needed to be righted with tow trucks.
A St John Ambulance spokesperson says they assessed 16 patients at the scene, with one transported to Lakes District Hospital in a minor condition. “The remaining patients were also in a minor condition and did not require transport to hospital,” he says.
Wilkinson says investigations into the cause of the crash, 35km from Queenstown, are ongoing, but icy road conditions will be “something that will be looked at as a possible causative factor”.
Police are still urging motorists to be extra cautious in the wintry, icy conditions with black ice and grit making for challenging driving.
“Be aware that ice can be impossible to see, and care is required when driving in shaded areas, and on structures such as bridges, which can have ice on their road surfaces,” Wilkinson says.
Hungry punter
One seemingly very hungry Fergburger customer, who allegedly climbed through the serving hatch and assaulted a staff member, has landed himself in court.
Area response manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson says about 2.30am on 10 July a man allegedly became verbally abusive to staff,
climbing through the serving hatch into the kitchen area where he allegedly assaulted a staff member inside. The man allegedly threw a rubbish bin at staff, and two members of the public came into the kitchen to help staff subdue him until Police arrived, Wilkinson says.
The alleged assailant was taken for a medical assessment due to his level of intoxication, and a Fergburger staff member suffered a minor injury, he says.
The man was charged with assault with a blunt instrument, assault with intent to injure and disorderly behaviour.
A 28-year-old Queenstown man appeared in the Queenstown District Court on 20th July and will reappear in August.
Young UK driver charged
A 21-year-old UK driver has been charged with operating a vehicle carelessly after a collision on Frankton Road on Friday, 24 July. Constable Amanda Shute says the vehicle had allegedly been overtaking other vehicles at speed using the median strip and lost control ending up down a bank and coming to rest below on the Frankton Walking Track. The man faces court on August 28.
Late night fight
Two 20-year-old Australian men pleaded guilty to fighting in a public place and assault after a fight broke out between several people in Beach Street just before midnight last Thursday, 23 July. Shute says the fight started over allegations that people had been hassling another group inside a local bar. The two Australians were convicted and fined in the Queenstown District Court on Monday, 27 July.
Cardrona rescues
The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter also flew a patient with moderate injuries to Dunedin Hospital after an accident on Cardrona Valley Road just before 12.30pm on Monday, 27 July, St John says. A patient was also flown to Lakes District Hospital after an accident at Cardrona Ski Area on Tuesday, 28 July.
Drink driving:
45-year-old local woman, 458mcg, Frankton Road, 11.01am, 29 July.
41-year-old local man, 400mcg, checkpoint Gorge Road, 2.19pm, 25 July. Infringement notice.
