An “exceptionally lucky”
climber has recently survived a nearly 2,000ft fall while hiking on New Zealand’s
Mount Taranaki.
The mountain, which is
a dormant volcano and one of the deadliest in the country, is about 8,300ft
tall.
Police said the unidentified
mountaineer landed in the snow after losing his footing and slipping at around noon
Saturday.
He suffered minor
injuries and was brought down to the bottom of the mountain to receive first
aid.
“Thanks to recent
spring weather, the ice had softened, and the snow caught the climber’s fall.
He is exceptionally lucky to be alive,” constable Vaughan Smith said.
“These are challenging
areas and when things go wrong there are often serious consequences.”
Mount Taranaki in
New Zealand’s North Iceland is a popular destination among thrill-seekers due
to high risks of avalanches and sub-zero temperatures.
“Its isolation from
other mountains, proximity to the coastline, and geographic position make for
some of the most fast-changing-and-adverse weather conditions found anywhere in
New Zealand,” the NZ Mountain Safety Council states.
“The weather, combined with complex and rough terrain,
creates a highly unique environment. One mistake can be disastrous.”