Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 11, 2022 10:04:14 GMT 12
Does anyone know if this RNZAF pilot recovered to fly again in the service?
Survivor tells of 12 hours buried under snow
“It was either dig or die—and I wasn’t going to die,” said the Christchurch climber, Mr P. R. Gazley, who spent 12 hours buried in an avalanche at Mount Cook, last evening.
Mr Gazley, who is 27, is a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. From his bed at the Burwood Hospital, yesterday, he recalled as much as possible of the 12 hours in which he dug for his life at the head of the Noeline Glacier, near Mount Cook, last Sunday. “I was quite convinced I was going to die, but I really had no intention of doing so,” ’ he said.
As he spoke, Mr Gazley kept his badly injured left hand high in the air and tried to drink his soup with his damaged right hand. The left hand looked completely devoid of life, but Mr Gazley is confident that he will be able to use it again in the mountains or at the controls of an aircraft.
AVALANCHE SEEN
Mr Gazley recalled how he and a climbing companion, Mr O. McCahan (Christchurch) had set up a bivouac at the head of the Noeline Glacier last Saturday evening, before an intended ascent of Mount Nazomi (9716 ft) the next day.
The pair woke at dawn, breakfasted, and got fully dressed for climbing. “I was packing my gear when I saw the avalanche come down.” Mr Gazley said.
He estimated that it was about a third of a mile away when first noticed. Being an ice avalanche, as distinct from the more common snow avalanche, it was a spectacular sight, especially when the ice broke up and produced flashes of light.
Mr Gazley first realised the avalanche would envelope them when it struck a shelf and sent powder snow into the air. “It was only a matter of seconds from when I first saw it, before it actually hit us—perhaps 30sec. I don’t know,” he said.
"The next thing I knew I was flat on my face, under 3ft of ice and snow. I couldn’t see or yell out to my cobber; snow is a very good insulator of sound,” Mr Gazley said.
“Mr McCahan had injured his hand on a falling boulder so even if he had heard me, he would not have been able to dig.”
Mr Gazley’s right hand was pinned under rock, leaving: only his left arm free for digging. By forcing this arm above his head, he was almost able to get to the top of the snow. The area immediately round him was not black, but reasonably light.
“I knew my fingers were cut and bleeding, because I saw that the nail on my thumb was almost off; but it was dig or die.
“I don’t think I got really desperate about it all. I was probably quite rational.”
In his attempt to dig his way free, Mr Gazley felt no pain in his hand. This enabled him to work much easier.
“It was unfortunate that a few minutes before the avalanche struck, I took my mitten off to make it easier for me to pack. If I hadn’t done I so, perhaps my hands would not have been so bad.”
Although he lost all track of time, Mr Gazley said he did not think he was conscious for the whole 12 hours. “I was wearing a watch, but because my right hand was jammed, I couldn't pull my parka away to have a look at it.”
When Mr Gazley heard voices above him, he realised help was near.
“I just yelled and yelled. I wouldn’t know what I said, but I just , screamed," he said.
RESCUERS PRAISED
“I hadn’t quite dug a hole in the snow, but they could see a light patch where I had tried. One of the rescuers put his hand down to me, but they had to use a shovel to dig me out.
“I just collapsed in a big heap on the snow,” Mr Gazley said. “They wrapped me up, but I don’t remember much after that. One of them gave me some chocolate, and was it good.”
Mr Gazley was full of praise for the rescue party. He was unable to thank them enough for their great work, he said.
Mr Gazley said he had been involved in another climbing accident, but did not wish to discuss it. He does not believe that the mountains have got the best of him, and is as keen to get back to climbing as he is to flying.
THE PRESS, 20 JANUARY 1973
Survivor tells of 12 hours buried under snow
“It was either dig or die—and I wasn’t going to die,” said the Christchurch climber, Mr P. R. Gazley, who spent 12 hours buried in an avalanche at Mount Cook, last evening.
Mr Gazley, who is 27, is a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. From his bed at the Burwood Hospital, yesterday, he recalled as much as possible of the 12 hours in which he dug for his life at the head of the Noeline Glacier, near Mount Cook, last Sunday. “I was quite convinced I was going to die, but I really had no intention of doing so,” ’ he said.
As he spoke, Mr Gazley kept his badly injured left hand high in the air and tried to drink his soup with his damaged right hand. The left hand looked completely devoid of life, but Mr Gazley is confident that he will be able to use it again in the mountains or at the controls of an aircraft.
AVALANCHE SEEN
Mr Gazley recalled how he and a climbing companion, Mr O. McCahan (Christchurch) had set up a bivouac at the head of the Noeline Glacier last Saturday evening, before an intended ascent of Mount Nazomi (9716 ft) the next day.
The pair woke at dawn, breakfasted, and got fully dressed for climbing. “I was packing my gear when I saw the avalanche come down.” Mr Gazley said.
He estimated that it was about a third of a mile away when first noticed. Being an ice avalanche, as distinct from the more common snow avalanche, it was a spectacular sight, especially when the ice broke up and produced flashes of light.
Mr Gazley first realised the avalanche would envelope them when it struck a shelf and sent powder snow into the air. “It was only a matter of seconds from when I first saw it, before it actually hit us—perhaps 30sec. I don’t know,” he said.
"The next thing I knew I was flat on my face, under 3ft of ice and snow. I couldn’t see or yell out to my cobber; snow is a very good insulator of sound,” Mr Gazley said.
“Mr McCahan had injured his hand on a falling boulder so even if he had heard me, he would not have been able to dig.”
Mr Gazley’s right hand was pinned under rock, leaving: only his left arm free for digging. By forcing this arm above his head, he was almost able to get to the top of the snow. The area immediately round him was not black, but reasonably light.
“I knew my fingers were cut and bleeding, because I saw that the nail on my thumb was almost off; but it was dig or die.
“I don’t think I got really desperate about it all. I was probably quite rational.”
In his attempt to dig his way free, Mr Gazley felt no pain in his hand. This enabled him to work much easier.
“It was unfortunate that a few minutes before the avalanche struck, I took my mitten off to make it easier for me to pack. If I hadn’t done I so, perhaps my hands would not have been so bad.”
Although he lost all track of time, Mr Gazley said he did not think he was conscious for the whole 12 hours. “I was wearing a watch, but because my right hand was jammed, I couldn't pull my parka away to have a look at it.”
When Mr Gazley heard voices above him, he realised help was near.
“I just yelled and yelled. I wouldn’t know what I said, but I just , screamed," he said.
RESCUERS PRAISED
“I hadn’t quite dug a hole in the snow, but they could see a light patch where I had tried. One of the rescuers put his hand down to me, but they had to use a shovel to dig me out.
“I just collapsed in a big heap on the snow,” Mr Gazley said. “They wrapped me up, but I don’t remember much after that. One of them gave me some chocolate, and was it good.”
Mr Gazley was full of praise for the rescue party. He was unable to thank them enough for their great work, he said.
Mr Gazley said he had been involved in another climbing accident, but did not wish to discuss it. He does not believe that the mountains have got the best of him, and is as keen to get back to climbing as he is to flying.
THE PRESS, 20 JANUARY 1973
