Wakatipu specialist rescuers called in for Sabre Peak tragedy
Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team members’ specialist skills were called in at 5.30pm on Saturday (13 December) to help locate the two Australian-based climbers who died on Sabre Peak in Fiordland National Park.
“Initially a Heli Otago rescue helicopter was dispatched after a personal locator beacon was activated by another party in the vicinity,” team coordinator Russ Tilsely says. “They did a search of the area and were able to locate one of the climbers about 2 metres to 3 metres down a small crevasse but couldn’t see the other,” he says. “Due to the nature of the terrain, they ascertained that it would be a job for us so that’s when we were called.”
Tilsley says they flew in with Heliworks from Queenstown at 6.30pm but couldn’t get in as the cloud had closed in. “It was impossible to get a visual on the area.” They flew back in on Sunday at 6am and found the first climber then after a short search found the other.
“It was technical and difficult due to the nature of the terrain, steep snow and rock faces, not easy access, weather issues, deep crevasses, with multiply technical rope lowers and raisers,” Tilsley says. He paid tribute to the two local pilots involved.
“As on most of these jobs we couldn’t do it without the pilots. Great flying from Craig Lyders at Heliworks backed up by ‘Snow’ Mullally from Southern Lakes Helicopters Te Anau in challenging terrain and weather conditions.”
Tilsley says the north buttress of Sabre Peak, near the Homer Tunnel, is “one of the classic alpine routes in NZ”. “It’s very popular with climbers from NZ and overseas.”
Police investigations were continuing and no further comment could be made, but Police named the two climbers yesterday (17 December) as 28-year-old Connor Scott McKenzie, a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada, and 23-year-old Australian Tanmay Shetankumar Bhati.
Their deaths have been referred to the Coroner.
