Mother and son escape after 200m fall

A three-day tramp in Arthurs Pass National Park ended painfully for a woman who fell 200m down a slope and her son, who jumped after her.

Both survived yesterday's incident and were picked up by rescue helicopter after setting off their locator beacon, One News reported.

Andrea Short suffered a dislocated thumb and bruises after falling down a slope covered with rocks and ice.

Her son, David Short, said he watched in horror as his mother disappeared. "She was gone in a matter of seconds and the first thing that went through my head was this might be it for mum."

But his mother was able to break her fall.

"I was stuck sort of upside down, pack in the ground holding me there and trying to wave to David to tell him I was all right."

Mr Short said he cannot explain why he jumped after her.

"I have no idea what possessed me to do that. She shot out of sight and I didn't think, I just jumped," he said.

Ms Short attributed her survival to their beacon. It took just an hour and a half for the helicopter to find them.

"Arthurs Pass turned horrible in the space of 10 minutes," she said.

- NZPA