Coroner looks into heliskiing guide's death

An experienced alpine guide, who died in an avalanche in the Ragged Range last August, had deviated from the agreed heliskiing plan for the day with a last minute decision for an extra ski run with four clients on a steep slope.

Methven Heliski guide Jonathan Harvey Morgan, 38, was killed in a massive avalanche on August 14 last year but his clients, two Australian men and a Japanese couple, survived.

In his report to an inquest before coroner Richard McElrea in Ashburton today Labour Department health and safety inspector David Bellett said some of the clients wanted to make an additional ski run that day and Mr Morgan agreed to guide them.

Company director and senior Methven Heliski guide Kevin Bloekholt had approved the additional run but had not ascertained exactly where the group intended to ski.

Mr Bellett said Mr Morgan had initially chosen Sunset Bowl for the last ski run but, at the last minute, had changed to a nearby slope, above Totara Stream, which was outside the parameters decided for the day. The chosen slope was steeper than the agreed slope grade for the day, it had a poor escape path and steep bluffs at the bottom.

Mr Bellett said the landing site chosen for the helicopter had also been ill-advised.

"Given the company (Methven Heliski) did have relatively clear operational guidelines about requiring all (ski) runs to be approved by the director yet did not actively enforce this and given it (the company) was aware of the variety of safety equipment available yet did not supply it to their employees, the company may have breached provisions of the Health and Safety in Employment Act as it did not take all [practical steps to maintain a safe work place," Mr Bellett's report said.

The company said in a report that some available equipment was impractical and could create additional hazards. The situation may change as technology improved but there was a limit to the amount of gear a ski guide could carry.

Helicopter pilot Kurt Schierning said he had been initially uncomfortable with the chosen landing site at the bottom of the ski run but had been assured by Mr Morgan's confidence. When the avalanche came down the slope, sweeping all five skiers with it, Mr Schierning said he managed to get his helicopter airborne when the avalanche was about 30 metres from the machine.

Dale Anderson, 39, of Melbourne, was skiing with Mr Morgan when the avalanche struck and in his evidence, read to the inquest, he said he had started down the slope behind Mr Morgan when the snow started to open like an earthquake and in other parts it moved in waves.

He said he realised he was in an avalanche and tried to ski out of it when he was hit in the head and started tumbling. When it stopped he said he could breathe and told himself not to panic.

A Japanese man in the group was able to dig him out.

Daryl Willsher, 40, from the Gold Coast, who was also with the party said he had heard a loud rumble as the avalanche started and saw Mr Morgan and Mr Anderson disappear.

Alpine Guides managing director Bryan Carter said Mr Morgan had yelled avalanche on his radio while being swept down the mountain, which got help to the scene within 30 seconds of the avalanche stopping.