Climber falls 600 meters and has "minor injuries"

With “extraordinary luck”, a New Zealand climber survived a 600 meter fall. As police said Monday, he fell into the snow and suffered only minor injuries.

According to police spokesman Vaughan Smith, the man was on his way to the summit with a group on Saturday afternoon. Mount Taranaki over 2,500 meters highwhen he lost his balance and fell into the depths.

Thanks to the spring weather, the ice softened and the snow softened its fall. “He has extraordinary luck“That he’s still alive,” Smith said.

One of the country’s “deadliest mountains”

Mount Taranaki on New Zealand’s North Island is one of the country’s “deadliest mountains,” according to the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council. Due to the danger of avalanches and low temperatures throughout the year, the nature conservation authority advises “special preparation and skills” before climbing the mountain.

If something goes wrong during the climb, it will often have serious consequences,” explained Smith. Just two years ago, two mountaineers suffered fatal accidents in the same area.