Some details of avalanche victims released

5.45pm


UPDATED REPORT - Two New Zealanders and two Australians died today after being caught in an avalanche on Mt Tasman in the Mt Cook-Aoraki National Park.

Police named New Zealanders Dave Hiddleston and Paul Scaife, and Australians Andrew Platt and Dave Gardner as the victims.

The four were in a group of six who were climbing a steep part of Mt Tasman, towards Engineers Coll, when the avalanche hit about 8.30am, police said.

The climbers are thought to have fallen about 500m, with three dying at the scene and the fourth after being taken to Mt Cook Village.

Three of the dead climbers were understood to be aged in their 30s, while the fourth was 50.

Three of those who died were mountain climbing guides working for a company based at Wanaka.

Two other men, whose nationalities have not yet been released, were injured in the avalanche and were taken to Christchurch Hospital.

Clinical charge nurse in the hospital's emergency department, Paul O'Donovan, said a 42-year-old was in a serious condition with head injuries, while a 35-year-old had moderate injuries.

Police said earlier that it was not clear what had triggered the avalanche.

Rescue vehicles, including helicopters, spent much of the morning in the accident area, with some planned flights to and from there being stopped.

Several locals with expert mountain experience and knowledge were called in to help with the rescue.

Local Arthur McBride, of Alpine Guides, said this morning the season had been a bad one so far, in terms of accidents.

"It is some sort of avalanche. If it has been caused by a snow release or an ice cliff collapsing, I don't know," he said.

He said Mt Cook village was in shock at the tragedy.

"It is a pretty tough time, especially at this time of the year."

MetService spokesman Gerard Bellam told NZPA conditions on Aoraki-Mt Cook were near perfect for climbing today.

"It was fine with a southwest breeze. It is not surprising there were people up there, as it was suitable weather to climb the mountain today," he said.

"We've had some quite windy weather up there, so they've obviously taken the opportunity to go up."

Today's deaths bring December's death toll in the national park to eight. Earlier this month, a party of four Latvian climbers perished when they fell at least 300m near the summit of Aoraki-Mt Cook.

- NZPA