The helicopter pilot who flew Lieutenant Terry Harch off Mt Aspiring said it was "pretty amazing" the Australian managed to survive for days alone on the mountain— and "absolutely astounding" his rescuers managed to spot him.
Southern Lakes Helicopter director Sir Richard Hayes flew one of the helicopters involved in the rescue mission yesterday, with co-pilot Sean Mullally.
"I’ve been in this game for a long time, and this was up there," Sir Richard said.
Lt Harch was located in the area near Quarterdeck Pass. He was seen waving on Thursday by St John paramedic John Lambeth, which was a "pretty good bit of spotting" on Mr Lambeth’s part.
Wanaka alpine cliff rescue crew were dropped off and helicopters returned to retrieve them and Lt Harch yesterday, flying via the Haast Pass to Mt Aspiring. Sir Richard did not think Lt Harch had been trying to climb the mountain, and he suspected he had gone for a walk over nearby Bonar Glacier towards Pope’s Nose, and was trying to return when he was caught in the snow.
There was a windchill factor of -24degC, and the the temperature on the mountain was -6degC. Sir Richard said when he spoke to Lt Harch he told him he had heard the helicopter flying overhead, and waved to attract its attention when it returned. He believed Lt Harch had dug himself into the snow.
The helicopters first attempted to locate Lt Harch about 10.30pm on Wednesday, but the weather was so bad they could not get up to French Ridge Hut (about 1500m) — and the last signal from Lt Harch’s locator beacon had been at more than 2000m.
Lt Harch had frostbite but was "probably in pretty good shape" for what he had been through, Sir Richard said.
"He was very, very cold."
