Eklutna Glacier Injury
By Vince Beltrami, Times 7/15/91

"5 Climbers Injured In Glacier Fall."  Five mountain climbers visiting Alaska as part of a London-based adventure group were hospitalized Sunday when they and their instructor fell 200 feet down Eklutna Glacier.

The climbers, roped to each other, were traversing a snow slide about 3:30 p.m. Saturday when one of them slipped and pulled the rest down in a heap.  The accident occurred about two miles from the base of the glacier, which is about 25 miles northeast of Anchorage.  Three climbers not involved in the fall hiked 15 miles to the Eklutna Lake campground to call for help, said Anne Mercer, spokeswoman with Operation Raleigh, the adventure group that organized the trip.

Three teams of six people each were making the 12 day trip, expected to end Wednesday at Eklutna Lake campground.  The remaining climbers are continuing their descent of the glacier, Mercer said.

Helicopters from Providence Hospital and the Alaska State Troopers were dispatched to the scene at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and arrived at the hospital with the injured climbers at 4:40 a.m., said troopers spokeswoman Kathy Wolgemuth.

Jacqui Feaver, 24, of England was listed in serious condition with a broken left leg, dislocated hip and possible concussion.  Nicky Kime, 25, of England, and Ying Ju Loi, 25, of Malaysia, were listed in satisfactory condition following surgery.  Gavin Burke, 23, of England was treated and released, a nursing supervisor said.

Helen Philips, a nurse from Australia, broke her collar bone but was able to help administer aid at the scene.  She was treated and released from the hospital.  Mark Bridgeman, a climbing instructor from England, was not injured in the fall, Mercer said.