Soldier Survives Week On Freezing New Zealand Mountain

Mount Aspring. (Picture: 姐夫 吳)

An Australian soldier has been rescued after surviving below-freezing conditions for a week on a New Zealand mountain.

Lieutenant Terry Harch was transported to hospital after being helicoptered off Mount Aspiring, on the South Island, in what rescuers described as a "snatch and grab" mission. 

The 29-year-old was found alive and "with slight frostbite". Authorities said the soldier dug a snow cave to survive before rescuers reached him on Thursday. 

Lt Harch had parked his car on Friday, July 27, to climb the 10,000ft mountain and was expected back on Monday, authorities said. A friend reported him missing that day and he also triggered an emergency beacon.

New Zealand Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Mike Roberts said they were able to drop off rescuers and a paramedic by helicopter on Thursday despite poor conditions and low cloud.

He said it was amazing that Mr Harch was able to stand up and wave when the helicopter arrived.

Authorities decided it was too dangerous to attempt a rescue that day, although they provided the soldier with food, hot drinks and a tent.

Search and Rescue officer Neville Blakemore said strong winds, cloud and snowfall had prevented a rescue attempt for most of the day on Friday until the weather suddenly improved in the afternoon.

"It's a great result as we did not want the climber spending another night on the mountain," he said.

After the rescue, which involved three helicopters, Mr Harch was taken to hospital in the city of Dunedin.

According to an article in the Australian Army newspaper from February 2014, Lt Harch was with 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. 

That year he climbed Mount Cook with two others to raise money for Soldier On, a charity that supports Australian Defence Force members who have suffered physical or mental wounds in the course of their service.

The article said Harch had climbed the mountain previously, in 2011, and was part of an army team that did a mountain climbing course in the shadow of Mount Cook in 2007.