Bennington inquest: Search and rescue safeguard needed

The decision to launch a search and rescue operation should not be left to just one person, a coroner has recommended following the tramping tragedy that claimed the life of Te Papa boss Seddon Bennington.

Coroner Tim Scott made the recommendation earlier today as he presented his findings into the deaths of Dr Bennington, 61, and tramping companion Marcella Jackson, 54.

Both died of hypothermia after they were caught in blizzard-like conditions on the Tararua Range on Saturday July 11 trying to reach Kime Hut. Their bodies were found four days later.

Mr Scott concluded that Mr Bennington and Ms Jackson actually survived he night and died on the morning of Sunday July 12.

A search and rescue operation was launched on Tuesday July 14 by Levin Police sergeant Noel Bigwood.

There was however a chance the search could have been launched in adverse weather conditions a day earlier but Mr Bigwood decided, by that stage, the pair would have either made it to Kime Hut or perished.

Although Mr Bigwood was right in this particular case, Mr Scott said there was a chance Dr Bennington and Ms Jackson could have survived until the Monday if they had packed a tent.

"While I'm not in favour of forming committees when lives are in the balance, I pondered long and hard about whether these decisions should be peer-reviewed by someone of equal expertise within say 30 minutes," he said.

"Having some form of checks and balances or a safeguard would take the pressure off...I think the police should consider this during their review of this case."

The coroner said the key factors in Dr Bennington and Ms Jackson's deaths were their lack of equipment for adverse weather conditions as well as their failure to properly check the weather forecast or take cellphones with them.

- © Fairfax NZ News