Aussie climber rescued after a week on freezing New Zealand mountain

Wellington, New Zealand — An Australian soldier has been rescued from a New Zealand mountain after surviving for a week in below-freezing conditions.

Rescue authorities said Friday they plucked 29-year-old Terry Harch from Mount Aspiring on the South Island in what they described as a “snatch and grab” mission involving three helicopters.

The helicopters also transported out four rescuers who had reached Harch a day earlier and two more rescuers who were on their way to him.

Harch parked his car last Friday to climb the mountain and was expected back on Monday, authorities say. They said a friend reported him missing and Harch also triggered an emergency beacon.

Authorities say the soldier dug a snow cave to survive before rescuers reached him on Thursday.

He was suffering from minor frostbite.    /vvp