Tuesday, 2 February 2016

New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) offers condolences

New Zealand Alpine Club General Manager, Sam Newton has acknowledged the sad passing of Gergo Verhas, on Mount Rolleston, yesterday.

“In a team of three climbers, Gergo had ascended the Central Direct Route on the Otira Face of Mount Rolleston on Sunday. After spending the night near the summit, the party was descending via the standard descent route, early on Monday morning”, he said.

“During that descent, Gergo slipped on loose scree, slid across a small patch of snow and came to a halt in a loose rocky area 50m below”, he said.

“His passing is a tragic loss to his friends and family. Our thoughts are with them”, he said.

“Gergo was an active and popular member of the Auckland Section of NZAC. Subsequent to completing instruction courses in both rock climbing and snowcraft, Gergo had enjoyed numerous climbs of significant mountains in NZ”, he said.

“In the last six months, Gergo had summited Mount Taranaki, all 12 peaks of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Earnslaw, Mount Temple and Mount Sefton – an impressive list. Prior to coming to New Zealand Gergo had completed the Haute Route Pyrénéenne, an incredible 800km trek in Europe”, he said.

“It is saddening that someone who was enjoying the mountains so much, has had such a tragic accident”, he said.

“Gergo will be fondly remembered by the Auckland Section of NZAC and the wider climbing community”, he said.

ends

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