New Zealand climber seriously injured after 400m fall on Mount Fuji

A New Zealand man fell 400m while attempting to climb Mt Fuji. Photo / 123RF

A New Zealand man has been seriously injured after falling some 400m while climbing Mt Fuji.

Japanese media said the unnamed Kiwi, 51, and Swedish woman, 23, fell during a group climb on the Japanese mountain, which is officially closed for winter.

The woman is reportedly unable to speak while the man is badly injured, local outlet Asahi reported. They are believed to be colleagues.

Another member of the climbing party saw the fall and told a fourth person, who made a call to emergency services, according to Fujinomiya Police.

Police said they received a call from a foreign woman at 3pm who reported two people had slipped and fallen near the seventh station (roughly 2800m above sea level) on the Fujinomiya Trail.

A 25-person rescue team, including members of the police and fire department, searched for the climbers but were hampered by bad winter weather.

At 10.40pm the pair were found near the Hoei crater on the southeastern flank of the mountain. They were then airlifted to hospital via helicopter.

The fire department believed the hikers fell 400m, Asahi reported.

The climate in winter is extremely cold on the 3776m mountain but varies widely depending on elevation.

Temperatures near the summit are -18C, according to Snow Forecast.

March weather is known as a dangerous time to hike. Mountain huts are shut and the season has “strong winds and snowy, icy conditions”, Asahi reported.

Fujisan Climb’s website said off-season temperatures are generally below freezing, making conditions very dangerous.

“From October to around mid-June, climbing to the summit is highly perilous due to extreme wind and weather conditions, snow, ice and a risk of avalanches,” the site said.

Local government guidelines call for prohibiting climbers who are not fully prepared for the climb although many still attempt the climb. Asahi reported there had already been one death on the mountain this winter.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it is aware of the incident.