Injured On Way For Help

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 1

Injured On Way For Help

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, January 12. Mr D. Drake, of Fairlie, to whom Miss B. Price and Mr G. Powell were roped when they were injured on Mount Jellicoe yesterday morning, was himself injured while he was seeking help.

Mr Drake, whose quick thinking prevented his injured companions from failing further down the eastern slope when they lost their footing and were buffeted against the rocks, suffered a back injury 7 when he fell near the Empress hut at 4 p.m. the same dav.

Satisfied of his companions’ comparative safety and comfort. Mr Drake climbed down to the Empress hut. from which he sent a message by radio to the Mount Cook National Park Board's headquarters. The message was received at 11.15 a.m. yesterday.

Mr Drake then returned to Miss Price and Mr Powell with two of the remaining three members of the original

party (Messsr H. Gifford and D. Collins), who had remained in the hut while their companions climbed Mount Jellicoe.

The park board’s chief ranger (Mr M. L. Burke) said tonight that few details were available, but it was presumed that Mr Drake slipped when he was coming down : from his injured companions

| The accident occurred ; about 600 ft below the postI tion on Mount Jellicoe where jthe two Auckland climbers were injured. Mr Burke said that Mr Drake, who was “in a fair bit of pain,” was flown by helicopter to Mount Cook, and from there to the Timaru airport at Levels by a Cessna aircraft piloted by Mr R. | Rudge. He was then taken to I the Timaru Hospital.

Mr Drake was admitted about 9 p.m. for observation. His condition was described late this evening as satisfactory’.