Two Israeli trampers rescued from Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park yesterday after a plea for help by text message are on their way to Queenstown, only a little worse for wear, to celebrate New Year.
The two were flown out by helicopter with three of the Mt Cook Alpine Rescue team on board and four others, including Twizel senior constable Les Andrew, involved at Mt Cook rescue headquarters.
One of the men, aged 22, was treated at the Mt Cook medical centre for a rolled ankle. His climbing partner (28) was uninjured.
Constable Andrew said the two men set out from the Hooker Valley on Sunday morning to tramp over the Ball Pass into the Tasman Valley.
The injury occurred before the pass, where the two men spent the night waiting to see if they could continue.
However, at 9am yesterday, when the injured tramper realised he could not, a text message was sent to a friend in New Zealand who called out the search team.
The two trampers were lifted out by 10.30am.
Both had been well-prepared for the tramp apart from their footwear.
