The two climbers killed during a summit attempt on Aoraki Mount Cook were a guide from New Zealand and a client from the United States, police confirmed today.
They were part of a group of four, consisting of two guides and their clients.
At around 10.45pm on Monday, the group were attempting the summit from Empress Hut when two members fell from a ridge onto the west side of the mountain.
Their bodies were found at around 7am yesterday, and were recovered at about midday.
“We can now begin the process of returning these men to their families,” Inspector Vicki Walker said today.
She confirmed one of the climbers was from the US, and said police were working with the US consulate.
The matter was now with the coroner, and a formal identification process had begun.
NZ Mountain Guides Association President Anna Keeling told Breakfast the guide killed was a “valued” member of the community and a “very high-level mountain guide”. (Source: 1News)
NZ Mountain Guides Association President Anna Keeling told Breakfast this morning the guide killed was a “valued” member of the community and a “very high-level mountain guide”. She said he leaves behind a family.
“It’s a really raw situation right now… We’re taking it hard, for sure.”
Keeling said she spoke to the surviving guide, who told her he only saw “headlamps falling down” and didn’t know why they fell.
She said the guides had been taking on a “particularly long and arduous route” with “significant exposure”.
She said that while mountaineers do their best to mitigate risk, it was “impossible” to eliminate it.
Police were notified of the incident at around 11.20pm on Monday, and two helicopters, one from the Department of Conservation Aoraki Search and Rescue team in Queenstown and the other from Dunedin, flew straight to the mountain to begin the search.
The two survivors were picked up by the helicopter from Dunedin and airlifted from the mountain at around 2.15am yesterday.
Both helicopters searched for the missing climbers through the night.
Walker thanked all those involved in the rescue and recovery.
“It has been a difficult period, most of all for the families of the two climbers and the wider community.”
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including a second blaze at a Waiuku business park, more arrests over the Louvre heist, and how to avoid Black Friday regret. (Source: 1News)
