Men survive mountain stranding

Two men have survived freezing conditions after they were stranded overnight on the slopes of the Remarkables mountain range near Queenstown at the weekend.

Alpine Cliff Rescue team member Chris Prudden said the men, in their 20s, had been climbing the south face of the 2319m Single Cone on Saturday when darkness fell, the Southland Times reported.

The two men, one from Queenstown and one from Australia, decided to wait out the night on a ledge but called for help on a mobile phone about 3.30am as they began to succumb to the minus 12degC temperature, Mr Prudden said.

Poor weather conditions meant the search team was not able to get to the men until 8.30am, by which time they were suffering from mild hypothermia.

Both climbers were helped up the ridge and airlifted off the mountain about mid-morning.

They were flown to Lakes District Hospital, and discharged yesterday afternoon.

- NZPA