Body found in Mt Aspiring

The body of an Australian man who fell up to 40 metres and later died during a camping trip with friends has been found by a search and rescue team in Mt Aspiring National Park.

The 30-year-old Canberra man, who had been living in Dunedin since 2006, was recovered by Wanaka Land SAR  group at 7.30am from the northern slopes of Sisyphus Peak in the eastern branch of the Matukituki River of Mt Aspiring National Park.

He was tramping with his partner in a group of nine friends from Dunedin. His partner was with him when he died.

Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, Wanaka Police SAR Coordinator, said in a statement that the group entered the park on Friday afternoon, walking through to the Aspiring Flats of the Kitchener River and camping there that evening.

Yesterday the group headed up a known but unmarked route that took them over the Wilmot Saddle beside Sisyphus Peak.

About 7pm while descending difficult country with steep tussock and scrubby slopes between a series of bluff systems, one of the party fell.

Nicholson said the deceased fell up to 40 metres down the slope hitting his head several times during his fall.

Members of his group climbed down to assist him but found significant head injuries and shortly after he stopped breathing. CPR was performed unsuccessfully.

Three members of the group left the accident site that night and walked out to raise help, while the remaining party members remained with the deceased.

The man’s name will not be released until his family in Australia have been contacted.

- © Fairfax NZ News