The distraught wife of missing climber Steve Dowall hasn't slept or eaten since she learned her husband was missing on Aoraki/Mt Cook.
Last night, a teary Sovann Dowall was desperate for her husband's safe return after he was separated from climbing partner Rob Hawes.
The search for the 52-year-old - who vanished on Thursday and has not activated his locator beacon - was suspended yesterday due to extreme weather. Dowall faced a third night in perilous, icy conditions.
"I miss him so much, I need him, what can I do without him?" Sovann told the Herald on Sunday.
"I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, the whole time since he is missing. I don't know what to do."
Sovann and Dowall, parents of three, are a month from celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary.
They live in Burma, where Dowall works for the United Nations, but return to New Zealand annually where Dowall climbs the mountain.
"He is slower because he only climbs once a year now. I just wish the two of them stayed together."
Sovann said her husband usually climbed with a bigger group. She was concerned when he said he was just going with one other person.
Sovann is with Dowall's parents in Pleasant Pt, near Timaru, waiting for news.
"We are supporting each other but we are very sad. We don't know what to do," she said.
Police yesterday confirmed search and rescue efforts had been suspended for the day because of strong winds and rain and described conditions as terrible.
They said both men were extremely experienced climbers.
The pair left the Mt Cook village at 4am on Thursday intending to reach the Empress Hut high up in the head of the Hooker Glacier.
They became separated mid-afternoon and Hawes made it to the hut. When Dowall failed to reach the hut by 9.30pm the emergency response team was called.
"As time passes on the concern for the safety of Mr Dowall increases but we are still hopeful he has managed to find shelter from the weather and will be located safe and well," said Constable Joe Rush from the Twizel police.
It was hoped weather would improve to assist the search today.
Fellow climber and friend Nina Sawicki said Dowall was well-equipped with food, a cooker and emergency gear.
"Steve is very experienced and he may not have activated his beacon because he had dug himself a snow shelter and didn't want to worry anyone," Sawicki said.
"He might have realised it was too dangerous to continue when the cloud came down and he's decided to make himself a shelter."
Hawes was at Empress Hut last night and could not be contacted.
- by Kirsty Wynn, Herald on Sunday
