'Pretty harrowing': Climbers rescued from ravine told family they were safe throughout ordeal
The mother of one of the climbers says the boys are recovering at home - and already planning their next trip.
Young Kiwi climbers Keanu Isaksson, 25, and Luca Zylstra-Law, 19, were rescued from a ravine on Mount Popomanaseu in the Solomon Islands after eight days. The pair told their families they were safe throughout their ordeal, even though they were trapped on a perch above a 30-meter drop. They faced rock falls, dwindling satellite phone battery, and the uncertainty of rescue.
The climbers, guided by locals, had to give up on climbing out themselves after three days of attempts. They reached out to their parents daily through satellite phone, but communication became fraught as the weather worsened. Their parents were unaware of the boys' precarious situation until a helicopter rescue team arrived and made a drop.
Both climbers are currently recovering in Honiara and in good spirits, with no plans to stop their adventures.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
