An operation is currently under way in the Arthur’s Pass area to rescue an injured Israeli tourist.
Search coordinator Sergeant Sean Judd said the alarm was raised about 8.30am today. A group of three Israeli men had spent the night in Goat Pass hut and were attempting to traverse an area of steep ice and snow when one of the party fell. It is believed he slid more than 30 metres on to rocks and sustained a broken femur and moderate head injuries in the fall.
One of the party was able to make it back to Goat Pass hut and radio for help.
Two medics are now with the injured man and a second helicopter is enroute to the scene with members of the Christchurch Alpine Cliff Rescue team who hope to secure and extract the patient before nightfall.
The two other Israeli tourists have been taken to Arthur’s Pass.
Sergeant Judd said the group were not well prepared for the environment they were in.
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