Search and rescue volunteers retrieved Mr Campbell from the Alex Knob area using a helicopter and winch on Thursday night and flew him straight to Greymouth Hospital for treatment.
He was transferred to Christchurch Hospital by helicopter yesterday morning.
West Coast police search and rescue co-ordinator Sean Judd said Mr Campbell was lucky to survive the fall and that the volunteers were able to reach him in a timely manner, given thelocation and fading light.
The operation was launched about 7.30pm after Mr Campbell's companion tramped for two hours to get help.
The two men had walked up the very steep track to Alex Knob to the 1300m summit.
Police believe that on the return trip the men took a shortcut and strayed from the track before Mr Campbell fell.
A Heliservices helicopter was dispatched to find Mr Campbell.
Search and rescue volunteers and glacier guides then cared for Mr Campbell until the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter and St John Ambulance paramedics arrived.
A manual extraction was also planned in case the rescue helicopter was unable to reach the patient.
Const Judd said at one stage it appeared the helicopter might not be able to get through and he was very concerned about the risk the operation posed to the volunteers and Mr Campbell.
"If the helicopter couldn't extract him - and at one point it looked like it couldn't have - we would have had to have made some hard decisions about how to rescue him, and in the dark, if we would rescue him. We may've left him on the hill with a couple of others," Const Judd said.
At least six St John staff and volunteers and about 12 climbers, glacier guides and Department of Conservation staff from Franz Josef and Fox Glacier worked on the operation alongside police.
Neither man was adequately equipped nor had the necessary skills to be in that type of country, Const Judd said.
"Once again, people have headed into the back country without the correct equipment, without planning, or without leaving intentions with a responsible person.
"The patient in this incident is very lucky to be alive and without the skills and dedication of the local rescue response, quite simply would not be."
Mr Campbell's injuries also include multiple serious cuts and bruises.
