Man Spends Night In Bush At Franz Joseph

Grey River Argus, 5 October 1948, Page 2

Man Spends Night In Bush At Franz Joseph

A member of the New Plymouth Aero Club, Mr James F. Andrews, of Christchurch, had an unenviable experience on Sunday, when darkness caught him on the Franz Joseph Glacier. Mr Andrews, who mahaged to walk across the glacier, spent the night moving along tracks to keep warm, and at daylight yesterday was able to make his way to the Hostel. Mr Andrews said that, he was flown to the Franz Joseph Hostel on Sunday from Greymouth, and about 4.30 p.m. walked to the glacier. He crossed the ice, and was skirting the borders of the bushland when darkness fell. Making his way into the bush, he followed a track in the direction of the Hostel, but became lost. With the aid of two sticks, he walked about all through the night to keep warm, and at daylight was able to find his way out of ths bush.

He said that as he neared the Hostel he met a search party. The same party had left the Hostel at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, and had looked for him until midnight. Feeling none the worse for his experience, Mr Andrews was flown back to Hokitika yesterday morning, and came on to Greymouth by rail-car. High winds prevented the plane from making the trip.