A climber survived a 600-meter fall down the side of one of the most dangerous mountains in New Zealand, local police announced Monday.
The man, who was part of a group of climbers, was approaching the snowy summit of Mount Taranaki, on the North Island of New Zealand, when he lost his balance and slipped.
Quoted by the AFP news agency, police officer Vaughan Smith said the climber suffered minor injuries.
“The spring weather, which softened the ice, favored the climber’s fall. The man was exceptionally lucky to be alive,” Smith said. “These are challenging areas and when things go wrong, there are serious consequences,” he added.
The man slipped in the same spot where two other climbers died in 2021. According to New Zealand’s conservation department, climbing Mount Taranaki requires “special skill and preparation” due to the risk of avalanches and sub-zero temperatures.
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council describes Mount Taranaki as a challenge for climbers all year round and is known as the country’s “deadliest mountains”.
Source: TSF
