Body of Irish climber recovered in NZ

Searchers recovered the body today of an Irish hiker who died in New Zealand after falling 800 feet into a rocky ravine a week earlier, officials said.

Donal Deery, aged 29, died on January 12 after falling from the Cascade Saddle near Wanaka town while trying to save his girlfriend, who fell into the same ravine after slipping on soft snow.

Other hikers abseiled down and resuscitated the woman, 27-year-old Helen McClements, but were unable to revive Deery.

McClements’ back was broken and she remains hospitalised in southern New Zealand’s Dunedin city.

Wanaka Search and Rescue and Alpine Cliff Rescue team members recovered Deery’s body after bad weather hindered their efforts for a week, search and rescue co-ordinator Sgt. Aaron Nicholson said in a statement.

He died trying to save his girlfriend, Nicholson said earlier. “I’ve told his parents he’s a real hero.”

Deery’s body will be taken to Dunedin Hospital for a post-mortem examination before a coroner releases his body for repatriation to Ireland.

Wanaka is about 500 miles south west of the capital, Wellington.