They decided to survey Aoraki voluntarily to find out its recesses and difficult routes. They finally died there. Two climbers died on Tuesday while climbing New Zealand’s highest peak, according to a press release from local authorities.
Based on initial investigations, a group of four climbers alerted authorities due to difficult conditions on Monday evening. Two of them were rescued unharmed by helicopter on Tuesday morning.
240 deaths in 100 years
The other two weren’t so lucky. After a massive search operation involving two helicopters, they were found dead several hours later. His body could not be found because of the “difficult mountainous environment”, explained Police Inspector Vicki Walker.
Sergeant Kevin McErlain told local media that “both men were tied with ropes when they fell.” The identities of the victims have not been released.
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Aoraki, 3,724 meters above sea level, is part of the Southern Alps, a chain of icy mountains that stretches along the South Island. Popular with tourists, this peak is notorious for its difficulty due to gaps and the risk of avalanches. According to The Guardian, more than 240 deaths have been recorded since the start of the 20th century. Dozens of people who died on the mountain have never been found.
