Arthur's Pass climber falls to death

A climber has died on Mt Rolleston in Arthur's Pass National Park after falling 50 metres down a sheer rockface.

The 31-year-old died on the South Island mountain after a fall about 7.30am today, Senior Sergeant Vaughn Lapslie, of Canterbury, said.

It was understood the man was climbing with two other experienced trampers.

Sen Sgt Lapslie said police were alerted to the incident by the St John emergency service.

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter was sent to the scene, but the man had died.

Helicopter crewman Wayne Ledgerwood said it was a harrowing job to attend, and it was on the mountain's north facing Otira Face.

He said the two other members of the man's climbing party - two women - were "extremely upset".

"We were sent out to a climbing party, a member of which had fallen out there. Once we located them on the hillside we put a paramedic down and assisted the patient but unfortunately he was deceased at that stage.

"He had fallen approximately 50m when they were descending the mountain."

He said the two women were flown back to Arthur's Pass before the man's body was retrieved.

Mr Ledgerwood said it was the most recent in a spate of climbing-related rescues in the area.

"At the moment it seems to be reasonably common that we are going up into the likes of the Arthur's Pass area to recover climbers who have been hurt."

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

In December last year, two Australian climbers died on Mt Cook in the South Island.

Stuart Jason Hollaway (42) and his partner 35-year-old Dale Amanda Thistlethwaite were roped together when they fell on December 28 during a week-long climbing trip in New Zealand.

Nicola Andrews (28) died on December 23, after falling 300m from the Eugene Glacier in the Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park.

Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said it was too soon to know the intricate details of what happened, but it was a tragedy.

"It is always a tragedy when people die in the outdoors. Mt Rolleston in particular is a beautiful place for people to visit, but it is always a tragedy when someone has an unfortunate accident."

He said Mt Rolleston was very steep and unstable terrain, and only climbed by those with a lot of experience.

"I don't know about this climber and their experience but to be in that environment and at that time of day on a Monday morning suggests they had experience.

"That area is known for its very unstable rocks, some people describe it as like Weet-Bix. It's very steep and can get near vertical in places.

"If you make a small slip, there is a very small margin of error."

In light of the accident, and ahead of Waitangi Weekend, Mr Daisley recommended people familiarise themselves with the organisations' safety guidelines.

The Mountain Safety Council safety tips can be viewed here

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