8 May 2013

Kiwi climbers' lucky escape

From Afternoons, 2:09 pm on 8 May 2013

Two members of the team of New Zealand and American climbers attempting to summit Anidesha Chuli, or White Wave in the Eastern Himalayas were just 400 metres from the top when it all went wrong. Ben Dare and Scott Scheele were attempting the summit while Rob and and Andre van Dusschoten remained at base camp. The avalance swept Scott 90 metres down the mountain leaving him with a serious concussion. Ben got Scott back down to Camp 2 at 6000m and activated the emergency beacon. Rob's dad Graham got the message here in New Zealand and the rescue plan was put in motion.