Rescuers have received confirmation the two climbers who
spent two nights on Mt Cook/Aoraki in sub-zero temperatures
are safe and due to walk out of the national park today.
The European men, both in their 20s, activated their
emergency beacon on Friday afternoon with one of them
reportedly suffering from hypothermia, but rescuers could not
reach them because of bad weather.
They told Department of Conservation staff that after "warm
food and hunkering down in a bivouac for the evening, upon
reassessment of the situation yesterday morning, both felt
fit to continue on their way.
The pair was spotted by a rescue helicopter at about 10.15am
yesterday and gave the thumbs up sign, indicating they were
in good shape.
"We were confident the two men were safe and well, but we
could not stand down the search until we were 100 percent
certain," Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand mission
coordinator Chris Henshaw said today.
"They did all the right things by taking emergency
communications equipment with them, making sure friends knew
where they were headed, and raising the alarm when they had
concerns for their safety."
The two men were climbing in a popular section of Middle Peak
at 3500 metres.
The men were well equipped with sleeping bags and other
survival gear.
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