Kiwi climbers rescued from Solomons ravine after eight days doing well, mum says

Two young New Zealand climbers have been rescued after a harrowing eight-day ordeal trapped in a ravine on Mount Popomanaseu, the highest peak in the Solomon Islands. Keanu Isaksson, 25, and Luca Zylstra-Law, 19, were stuck on a ledge above a 30-meter sheer drop after falling into a crevice during torrential rain.

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They certainly were being very kind to their mothers ... they were telling us that they were warm and dry, which absolutely was not the case.

During their entrapment, the climbers endured rock falls and a dwindling satellite phone battery, all while facing the uncertainty of rescue. Isaksson's mother, Deni Holl, shared that the pair tried to keep their spirits up and reassure their families, though they were not entirely truthful about their conditions, stating they were warm and dry when they were not.

The pair, described as avid outdoorsmen, had to part ways with their local guides due to tribal land restrictions. They had been messaging their parents daily via satellite phone until communication ceased for three days, raising alarm. A subsequent urgent message requested helicopter evacuation, revealing the severity of their situation.

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There will be no stopping them.

After being found exhausted but uninjured, they are now recovering in Honiara and are reportedly in good spirits. Holl mentioned that they are even discussing their next planned trip to the Amazon, indicating their adventurous spirit remains undeterred by the recent experience.

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Urgent. Urgent. Requiring helicopter evacuation, cannot go forwards, cannot go backwards.