By MARTIN JOHNSTON and REBECCA WALSH
A skier has been left for dead in the depths of a snowy crevasse high in the Southern Alps tonight after the team trying to rescue him had to be flown out before dark.
The man had fallen into the 30m to 40m-deep chasm after a snowbridge covering it collapsed at around 3pm.
He was heli-skiing with an Alpine Guides (Aoraki) group which had flown from its Methven base into the remote Ramsay Glacier, a source of the Rakaia River in Canterbury.
Rescuers are expected to fly back tomorrow morning to resume digging for the man, whose details were not known tonight.
A member of the Mt Cook-based Department of Conservation rescue team, Ray Bellringer, indicated this evening that it was highly likely the man had died.
He had "zero" chance of surviving. "He's buried under lots of snow."
Mr Bellringer estimated the hidden crevasse he had fallen into was anywhere between 30-40m deep. He and other rescuers helped retrieve three guides, who had lowered themselves into the crevasse to try and reach the man.
The rescue team had arrived at the glacier about 4pm but had to leave about 5.30pm as the helicopter was not able to fly in the dark, he said.
"It's very sad. But we have to be aware of putting ourselves in danger as well. It's one of those things we have to deal with."
It was understood the man had been skiing with a handful of other people when a snow bridge covering the crevasse collapsed.
Mr Bellringer said heli-skiing did have risks but was well-managed and the guides were carrying emergency equipment.
The managing director of the guiding company, Bryan Carter, said it was one of its clients involved in the accident, but referred other questions to the police.
Skier falls into crevasse in the Southern Alps
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