Two Climbers Die in Fall on New Zealand Mountain
Two climbers have died on Aoraki/Mount Cook after falling near the summit, while two others from their group were lifted off the mountain unharmed. Police say the bodies have been found, and teams are now trying to bring them down from what Inspector Vicki Walker called “a challenging alpine environment”.
Authorities were alerted late on Monday when the group of four called for help. By early Tuesday morning, a helicopter crew rescued two of them, who did not suffer injuries. Searches continued for the remaining pair, and they were discovered dead hours later, still connected by their climbing rope.
The victims have not been named, but the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association said one of those who died was a member of the organisation and was well-known internationally, and the other was that guide’s client. Local police confirmed the fall happened close to the summit.
Aoraki rises 3,724m above the South Island and is known for its stunning but unforgiving terrain — deep crevasses, shifting glaciers, sudden weather changes and avalanche risks make it a serious climb even for seasoned mountaineers. The peak has claimed more than 240 lives since the early 1900s, and dozens of victims have never been found.
Last year, three climbers from the US and Canada vanished on the mountain. Authorities eventually called off the search after finding items that suggested the men had fallen to their deaths.
Recovery efforts for the latest accident are continuing, but officials say conditions at high altitude are making the operation extremely difficult.
