WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Two climbers have died while a third has managed to dig herself out of an avalanche in New Zealand as the three were climbing a mountain early on Wednesday morning.
Police say the two men who died on Mount Hicks on the South Island were mountain guides and their bodies have been recovered.
Lou Sanson, the director-general of the Department of Conservation, told Radio New Zealand that the climber who survived, adventurer Jo Morgan, was completely buried in snow but managed to activate a locater beacon after 30 minutes and then managed to free herself after another 20 minutes.
Sanson says Morgan told him she had one hand free when the avalanche ended and was able to remove snow from her mouth and feel air somewhere above her.
Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.
