Two safe after snow cave-in

Photo/File

A snow caving adventure above Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa skifields almost ended in disaster after two teenagers were trapped when one of the caves collapsed on them.

The two youths were not hurt but rescuers said they were very lucky because both were surrounded in air pockets after the cave-in.

The incident happened just before 5pm on Thursday in an area known as Delta Corner about 2000m up the western side of the mountain and above the popular Whakapapa skifields.

And it is only about two minutes walk from the Ruapehu hut on Delta Ridge.

The two youths were among a group of people snow caving when one of caves collapsed.

National Park police launched a rescue effort and emergency services were called in. Ultimately it involved staff from Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, St John Ambulance and Ruapehu Alpine Rescue.

A National Park spokesman said other members of the party witnessed the collapse and were able to give immediate assistance. The first youth was excavated within a few minutes and the second only a couple of minutes later.

An alpine-trained St John paramedic was driven to the site on a snowmobile to provide medical assistance but neither boy was injured.

National Park police spoke with members of the party yesterday to clarify exactly what happened.