Missing climbers' families angry at foreign ministry
Updated
![Six climbers were trapped for two nights after a snow storm in Mount Cook National Park. [AAP]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/nz_mountcook_aap.jpg?<BR> "Six climbers were trapped for two nights after a snow storm in Mount Cook National Park. [AAP]")
Six climbers were trapped for two nights after a snow storm in Mount Cook National Park. [AAP]
The family of one of six Australian climbers rescued from a blizzard in New Zealand have criticised the Australian foreign ministry handling of the incident.
Most of the six climbers have returned to Sydney after being trapped in New Zealand's Mount Cook National Park by a snow storm for two nights.
They were rescued on Saturday.
Mary Clerke, mother of climber Melissa, says the family is disappointed with the lack of information from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs.
"I definitely think that DFAT were no use whatsoever, and as matter of fact, the second time my husband rang up, they said they had the names, they knew who they were, but they couldn't tell us," she said.
Melissa Clerke says she thinks her family suffered more than the climbers.
"It's a bit strange for us really because we're kind of up on the mountain and I think it's actually the people back down here at home that went through more trauma than we went through," she said.
