New Zealand police find equipment from missing US, Canadian climbers

3/12/2024 13:05

        Rescue teams looking for three climbers who went missing on New Zealand's highest mountain have found equipment belonging to the trio, police said on Tuesday, as a second day of searching was paused due to bad weather.
        
        U.S. nationals Kurt Blair, 56, and Carlos Romero, 50, and a Canadian man flew by helicopter on Saturday to a camp on Mount Cook, or Aoraki, with plans to summit the 3,724 metre mountain.
        
        The three men did not show up for their return flight on Monday morning, triggering the search-and-rescue effort.
        
        Police have withheld details of the Canadian national until authorities can contact his family.
        
        A search on Monday unearthed several climbing-related items which police believe belonged to the trio. Police said, bad weather will likely force rescuers to delay a further search until Thursday.
        
        Police are working with the U.S. and Canadian embassies to inform and support the families of the three men.