Two injured climbers who fell about 200m while climbing Mt Aspiring yesterday morning may not have survived if another group had not been climbing in the same area.
The injured men we flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital yesterday afternoon with moderate to serious injuries, including broken bones.
Another party of four climbers in the same area found the injured men on the Bonar Glacier.
Wanaka Search and Rescue Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said it could have easily been a double fatality if the pair had not been found when they were.
''It just happened this group was following a similar path so these other chaps are very lucky these four guys came across them, else they would still be there and may not have survived.''
The two men, a New Zealander and Canadian, had set off to climb the southwest route about 6am and at some point had fallen at least 200m down a steep area of snow and ice. They were roped together.
About 9.30am, the other group of climbers found the men and activated their emergency beacon.
Search and Rescue Wanaka responded about 10.30am.
Sgt Nicholson praised the work of the four other climbers who did everything possible to make sure the two injured men were rescued.
Two of them walked to the Colin Todd Hut to use the hut radio to call for help, while the other two remained with the injured men. Conditions on the mountain were clear for most of the day.
Two helicopters, one from the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust and one from Aspiring Helicopters, were used in the rescue
Two members of the Wanaka Alpine Cliff Rescue as well as St John paramedics also helped in the rescue.
