Police have named a 26-year-old Dunedin resident who collapsed and died during a downhill biking trip in the Cardrona Valley.
He was Philip Ross Bergman, originally of Weston, Hertfordshire, who made Dunedin his home after the Rugby World Cup last year.
Mr Bergman died after he collapsed during a downhill biking trip at Snow Park, in the Cardrona Valley yesterday.
Mr Bergman and his flatmate were among a group of 10 people taking part in the downhill bike ride organised by Queenstown Bike Taxis.
The pair had recently been living in North East Valley in Dunedin.
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, of Wanaka police, said Mr Bergman had just started mountain biking at about 2pm with others when he had a minor fall from his bike at an area known as Rock Drop. He stood up and immediately collapsed again.
The area had cellphone coverage and the 111 system was used to call for medical assistance.
Attempts to resuscitate Mr Bergman by fellow cyclists and first aid-trained staff from Queenstown Bike Taxis continued until a medical team arrived by air, but he was declared dead at the scene.
Mr Bergman's father in Western Australia and his mother in the United Kingdom had been advised of his death and were "understandably devastated", Det Sgt Shaw said.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been referred to the southern coroner while awaiting the outcome of the post-mortem examination.
