A search for a missing snowboarder near Coronet Peak ski area last night (Tuesday August 16) resulted in him being found at 11pm thanks to a helicopter with night vision.
The 30-year-old male snowboarder from Queenstown became separated from his snowboarding companions at approximately 3pm yesterday afternoon in the Greengates area of the ski area.
After he failed to meet them at the bottom of the Greengates run, his companions raised the alarm at the end of the day when he did not appear.
Coronet Peak ski area immediately launched its missing persons procedure and ski patrollers carried out a full sweep of the ski area.
He was located halfway down Dirty Four Creek towards Skippers Canyon, well outside the ski area boundary. He was cold but alive and well and in good spirits.
Coronet Peak ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said the snowboarder was “extremely happy” to see the helicopter when it landed on a precipice above him.
“He came running up to the chopper,” he said. “He was very lucky it all ended so well.”
Conditions on the mountain were cloudy with fog and low visibility at the time he become separated but cleared in the evening enabling the helicopter to operate. It was not snowing at the time.
