Climber killed, paraglider hurt in mountain accidents

Mt Aspiring. Photo / Supplied

A climber is believed to have been killed after a fall on Mt Aspiring and a paraglider has been airlifted to hospital after crashing on Treble Cone. Both mountains are near Wanaka.

A police communications spokesman confirmed a man had fallen south of the west ridge of Mt Aspiring. He believed the man had died but was unable to confirm this.

A Dunedin police spokesman told NZPA a rescue helicopter had been dispatched from Dunedin at 6pm to meet an ambulance in Wanaka.

A St Johns spokesman said a paraglider had been airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after crashing two-thirds of the way up the Treble Cone access road this afternoon. He suffered spinal injuries and was in a stable condition.

The spokesman was also unable to confirm the Mt Aspiring death.

- NZ Herald staff, NZPA