A climber made a "world record" dash to get help for his injured companion in Arthurs Pass yesterday, earning praise from rescuers.
The rescue team said the man's actions may well have saved the life of his mate, who fell 180 metres down the rocky face of Mt Philistine about 11.30am.
The pair had reached the summit and were on their way down when the accident happened, police said.
Rescuer Graeme Kates, who flew with the Westpac rescue helicopter to winch the climber to safety, said the 20-year-old had fallen 60m from Warnocks Bluff through a "gully and bluff system", and then tumbled and slid down a snowface a further 120m.
"He's a very lucky boy," Mr Kates told The Press.
The man's climbing companion went down to his injured friend and "set him up very well" on a 20deg to 30deg slope, Mr Kates said.
He made sure the fallen climber was warm and out of the line of any rock or snowfalls, then went to Arthurs Pass village "in world-record time", raising the alarm at 1.25pm.
The injured climber was flown to Christchurch Hospital with serious pelvic and back injuries and possibly a broken leg.
Mr Kates said that snow in the area was soft and inconsistent and although the mountain was not considered a difficult climb there had been several deaths on it.
Two men died in 2001 and 2002 after falls from the Warnocks Bluff section.
