Climber who died in NZ accident named

An Irish climber who plunged to his eath while descending a steep slope in New Zealand’s Southern Alps was named this evening.

Irish doctor Donal Deery, aged 29, and his female companion slipped on the snow-covered incline and fell about 800ft into a drainage area near the town of Wanaka, on South Island, said Sergeant Aaron Nicholson.

He became the third adventurer in 10 days to die in the mountain range, police said.

Nicholson said bad weather was preventing rescue workers from recovering the body, but that an attempt would be made “at the earliest opportunity”.

The woman hiker was flown to Dunedin Hospital, about 95 miles away, with fractures to her back.

She was reported to be in moderate condition.

Dr Deery is the third climber in the past week to die in the alps near Wanaka.