Climber rescued after four nights trapped on icy New Zealand mountain

An Australian climber has been rescued after being trapped for four nights on snow-covered Mount Aspiring in New Zealand's South Island. 
Soldier Terry Harch was taken to Dunedin Hospital Friday with "slight frostbite" after being helicoptered out in a "snatch and grab" operation, New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said in a statement.
The 29-year-old experienced climber set out for a climb on the 3,033-metre mountain Friday and was expected to return Monday. A friend raised the alarm and Harch triggered a rescue beacon around midday on Monday.
It took rescue crews until Thursday afternoon to spot the man "standing and waving." He had been on his own for nearly seven days in freezing conditions while facing 60-kilometre-per-hour winds and heavy snow.
While bad weather hampered an immediate rescue, a team stayed with the climber. They provided him with warm clothing, tents, food and were well-equipped to keep the group dry and warm for the final night on the mountain.
"The climber has been sheltering for the past two nights at the pass and he has clearly made some good decisions to be able to survive the bad weather, heavy snow and high winds," search and rescue officer Geoff Lunt said.