A 75-year-old tramper died when he fell down a bank and hit his head in Bay of Plenty yesterday, police say.
The Tauranga man was one of a group of 11 trampers who left on a day tramp to the Waioeka Gorge area near Opotiki about 9.30am.
The group was heading to Nikau Flats Hut, where they planned to have lunch, when the man fell about 20m shortly after midday.
The group activated an emergency locator beacon and the majority of them waited by the river for help to arrive.
Two of the party started walking out to raise the alarm.
The Gisborne Rescue Helicopter responded to the beacon and flew the tramping party out.
A second helicopter then winched the man's body out about 6.30pm.
The death has been referred to the coroner.