Hiker found after surviving month in snow, frozen mountains
File photo of a hiker, courtesy of Pixabay.
Digital Reporter
Thursday, August 25, 2016, 12:33 PM - A hiker that went missing approximately one month ago has been found alive in a snowed-in hut stationed in New Zealand's mountains.
The woman, an unnamed Czech tourist, withstood a grisly several weeks in the frozen mountains of Australasia after her partner fell to his death, police told The Associated Press (AP).
QUICK FACTS:
- Two hikers went missing a month ago in New Zealand bush
- Unnamed female hiker survived in a snowed-in hut after her partner fell to his death
- An official search was not conducted until Wednesday
- The woman was found to be in reasonable health
Inspector Olaf Jensen told the AP that the young woman was found in a park warden's hut on Routeburn Track. She was sent to a local hospital and was confirmed in reasonable health.
The hiker and her partner were originally to hike a 32-kilometre route, which reportedly takes three days, the CBC reports. Jensen noted that due to the deep snow, the track marks were buried, causing the couple to lose course. Two days later, the male hiker fell down a steep slope.
The woman spent three nights thereafter in the freezing outdoors before coming across the hut, which she broke into, Jensen told the AP.
She suffered from frost bite, hypothermia, and minor injuries.
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The woman was found Wednesday after police found the hikers' car. As the couple hadn't registered their hike with officials, nor did they carry emergency locator beacons, an official search had not launched until the car was discovered, the BBC reports.
A helicopter was released along the route, and the search team eventually found the woman near Lake Mackenzie.
Related Story: Lost hiker survives 26 days in the wilderness before passing away
SOURCE: The Associated Press via CBC News | BBC
