A climber who was caught in a mudslide and trapped by a rock has been rescued.
He was climbing near Mt Aicken in Arthur's Pass National Park when he activated his beacon at about 8:10am on Sunday. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) said a rescue helicopter from Greymouth and an Alpine Cliff Rescue Team from Christchurch were called to help.
RCCNZ said the man reported his leg being trapped by a rock after a mudslide. As a result, an urban search and rescue team was also deployed and brought lifting gear.
A helicopter couldn't quite get to the man's location, however the Alpine Cliff Rescue team flew to within a 45-minute walk of his position. They freed him at about 10:45am, and the urban search and rescue team was stood down.
They are now heading to a location under the cloud line where they can be extracted by the rescue helicopter.
RCCNZ didn't have an update on the man's condition.
"This [rescue situation] shows the importance of having a beacon, as the man was able to be assisted when in need," they said.
