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Weather continues to hinder Fox Glacier recovery mission

Author
Emily Murphy,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Nov 2015, 5:34AM

Weather continues to hinder Fox Glacier recovery mission

Author
Emily Murphy,
Publish Date
Tue, 24 Nov 2015, 5:34AM

UPDATED 5.00pm: Recovery crews at Fox Glacier are frustrated by bad weather continuing to put a hold on efforts to retrieve the remaining victims.

Four bodies remain at the scene.

The bodies of all three female passengers underwent post mortems in Christchurch today, along with the body of a male who is yet to be formally identified.

Inspector John Canning said he's hopeful tomorrow will present a break in the weather, long enough for crews to access the site.

"There are a lot of people here tightly coiled like springs, just waiting to go and they can't get up there and do the job they want to do for the families."

Meanwhile families of the victims are making travel arrangements to get to the Fox Glacier.

MORE: Four bodies recovered from Fox Glacier crash

Senior Constable Brent Swanson said once they get to the site, crews will start by levelling out a staging platform in the ice.

"The guys will be roped for Glacier travel, but then once they've put some fixed lines on them, which are just lengths of rope that are anchored into the glacier, then we can start moving around a bit more freely."

The families of the Fox Glacier helicopter victims are finalising plans to get to the West Coast.

Inspector John Canning said six of those who lost their lives were foreign tourists and police have been in constant contact with their families.

"When we hear from them that they're coming, we will try to find a combination for them in this town and we will look after them while they're here."

Meanwhile the possibility of a memorial service for 28-year-old Queenstown pilot Mitch Gameron has been touched on.

Alpine Adventures spokesperson Barry Waterland said that will be looked at, but at the moment the investigation is taking centre stage.

"There will be something happening," Waterland said.

"Especially with the family of the pilot ... all our pilots knew him very, very well."

 

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