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Snowboarder 'lucky to survive' volcanic eruption
October 13, 1997
Web posted at: 11:19 p.m. EDT (0319 GMT)MOUNT RUAPEHU, New Zealand (CNN) -- The snowboarder just had to get up close and see what the volcano crater looked like. And that, said Harry Keys of the New Zealand Conservation Department, almost cost the young man his life.
He was within 100 meters of the crater during one of the volcano's biggest eruptions.
"He was actually lucky to survive," Keys said. "If the eruption had been a little bit bigger he would have been hit by flying rocks."
Last year the volcano provided some breathtaking displays but ruined the ski season for many.
This year, skiers and outdoor adventurers returned to the slopes of the volcano. But the Conservation Department is worried some people are venturing too close.
Officials say that no matter how beautiful the views, they hope that people will observe them from beyond the one-kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano.
"Any closer and it's dangerous and silly," said Keys.
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