Fox Glacier recovery teams remain on standby

Rescue teams on the glacier (Supplied)
Rescue teams on the glacier (Supplied)

Three teams were flown up to the glacier this morning after the weather cleared enough to begin the recovery of the three remaining bodies at Fox Glacier.

However, this afternoon weather again halted the recovery and crews were only able to be on the glacier for less than an hour.

The Police Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team has remained on the glacier at Chancellor Hut, located more than 200 metres above Fox Glacier.

The Alpine Cliff Rescue team established a route to the helicopter rotor head and fuselage and recovered some evidence from the scene. Drone footage was also able to be completed.

Rescue crews on Fox Glacier (Supplied)

Two platforms have been completed on site to help recover the victims and wreckage. A drone is being used to map the crash site.

The wreckage will be assembled on site before being lifted back down the glacier and taken to Wellington.

Recovery crews remain on standby at Fox Glacier village to resume the mission as soon as there is a break in the weather.

The tourism helicopter crashed on Saturday, with seven people on board, including four British, two Australians and the Kiwi pilot.

Police confirmed yesterday they had recovered three females and one male. A post mortem has been carried out and they are in the process of identifying the victims.

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