BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

NZ glacier releases corpses

Glaciers contain unpredictable hazards

Edward Kunz and Augustus Manser disappeared from the East Ridge of Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak, on December 28, 1963.

Bones, clothing and climbing equipment were discovered last week by a climber at Hooker Glacier a police spokesman said.

Police later recovered the remains and contacted the Swiss Embassy to help locate relatives.

The bodies were identified by a wallet with the name of Manser inside it. Clothing and equipment also matched a newspaper photograph of the two climbers published just before they left.

Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at 3,754 metres (12,313 feet), is around 200 km (125 miles) west of Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island.

Police said it was not unusual for remains to be discovered after such a length of time. Slow-moving glaciers eventually surrender bodies even though the process sometimes takes decades.