**Rescue efforts have resumed for a climber who fell into a volcano crater in the United States.**The man fell when a snow cornice collapsed near the crater of Mount St Helens in Washington State, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Sheriff’s spokesman, David Cox, told AP that the man had been spotted, but rescuers had as yet been unable to pick him up.
The man was identified as 52-year-old Joseph Bohlig.
According to the latest reports, Mr Cox said that officials have asked for a military helicopter to reach Mr Bohlig, although the conditions on Tuesday morning would not permit flying or a ground rescue attempt because of tavalanche danger.
Searches for Mr Bohlig began when an emergency call was received early on Monday afternoon, Mr Cox said.
Bad weather
The climber was reported to have been approximately 5ft (1.5m) from the crater’s edge when the ground he was standing on collapsed.
“There are always overhanging cornices of snow this time of year, and unless you look carefully, you may not notice that there is nothing but air beneath you,” Rocky Henderson, of Portland Mountain Rescue in Oregon told the Associated Press.
A helicopter working for the US Geological Survey is said to have seen the fallen climber on a slope near the bottom of the crater on Monday, but was unable to pick him up because of high winds and heavy snow.
The climber’s medical condition is unknown although he was heard blowing an emergency whistle after his fall.