Title: West Coast Glacier Rescue Under Way

The rescue operation on Explorer Glacier, high about the Fox Glacier on the West Coast of the South Island has resumed this morning.

A German woman fell into a crevasse on the glacier yesterday afternoon.

Her climbing companion, a doctor, made it down the crevasse to the injured woman and made her safe by securing her to the ice face. His initial assessment was that she had a broken leg and arm and other possible injuries.

He then made it to Pioneer Hut and raised the alarm.

About 6pm a rescue team of three people reached the woman and stayed with her overnight in the crevasse.

The rescue team said this morning she was very cold and in a lot of pain.

They intend to strop her out of the crevasse to a staging point from where they can fly her to Franz Josef medical centre.

A rescue helicopter is traveling from Christchurch to take her from there to Christchurch Hospital.

Police described the pair as experienced and well-equipped mountaineers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Metservice: Where Will Snow Fall And What To Look Out For

The deep Antarctic air that is expected to sweep across the country this week is bringing very significant weather to many provinces.Here's the official MetService view of the key weather concerns for the country.

MetService Media and Communications Meteorologist Dan Corbett commented,"While snow will be a major issue for those in the South Island, wind and hail will affect many North Island districts."

Snow is expected to fall to sea level, or very near it, from Southland to South Canterbury from late Wednesday into Thursday and Friday. The snow level is expected to rise to 200m from about Christchurch northwards... More>>