Sick climber likely to spend night on Mt Cook

A climber stranded in a hut high on Aoraki/Mt Cook with a suspected collapsed lung will probably have to spend another night there as forecast bad weather prevents any rescue attempt.

The 34-year-old Australian is at Kelman Hut, at 2450 metres, with 14 other climbers, three guides, and two search and rescue personnel.

The climber was among a group on an instruction course when he became unwell about midday yesterday.

Bad weather prevented any attempt to airlift him to hospital yesterday but the search and rescue members were able to be dropped off with oxygen and pain relief for the man.

An early morning aerial rescue attempt was called off today because of rain and high winds and a review of conditions late morning indicated there would be not be sufficient clearance before nightfall, said Department of Conservation ranger Ray Bellringer.

The first opportunity to get a rescue helicopter in would probably be tomorrow morning, he said.

Carrying the sick man further down the mountain to be airlifted out had also been ruled out because of the conditions.

Mr Bellringer said he was in regular touch with the two search and rescue members in the hut, who were medically-trained, and were taking advice from doctors at Timaru Hospital.

"With this kind of condition it's serious but reasonably stable. He's better to be in a controlled place like the hut."

The man was being given pain relief and oxygen and was in a stable condition, he said.

- NZPA