An Australian climber has been found alive on Mount Aspiring, three days after he activated his emergency locator beacon.
Mount Aspiring National Park. Photo: 123rf.com
The Rescue Coordinator Centre said the man has only "slight frostbite" after enduring terrible weather and temperatures that have plummeted well below zero for the past two nights.
Mission coordinator Mike Roberts said it was "extraordinary" that the 29-year-old man was standing up and waving at 5pm, when the helicopters finally reached him.
An alpine cliff rescue team and paramedic have been dropped off with the man and will stay with him.
He is being provided with much-needed hot food and drinks.
The group will be taken off the mountain tomorrow, depending on the weather, Mr Roberts said.
"The pilots did an amazing job to fly in and out, despite the low cloud tonight. It has just hung around the mountain for days and hampered our search efforts," he said.
The man had parked his car on Friday to climb the mountain. He was expected back on Monday.
When he did not return that day, a friend alerted police that he was missing. The man had activated his beacon that same day.
All up, the man has been on his own for nearly seven days in freezing conditions, with 50 to 60km/h winds and heavy snow at times.