Power glitch strands eight on chairlift

An electrical malfunction left eight people hanging 20m off the ground in a broken chairlift in Queenstown yesterday.

The group had to be lowered to the ground by ropes from the Skyline Gondola's luge chairlift.

Andrea Davidson, of Rolleston, told The Southland Times she couldn't walk after spending about 90 minutes stuck on the chairlift.

"It was so cold with my hands and legs, my legs were like jelly," she said.

Ms Davidson and her family were supplied with emergency blankets until a pulley system was set up and they abseiled to the ground, clinging to a T-bar.

"They (the company) were very apologetic and said it had never happened before."

Skyline Enterprises managing director Ken Matthews said a staff member climbed a tower and then worked his way along the cable to each chair.

Harnesses were placed on those stuck and they were then lowered to the ground. It took about 50 minutes to get everyone down, he said.

- NZPA