A coroner has recommended strict criteria be applied for opening skifields in icy conditions following the death of a woman who lost control and slid nearly 900m to her death, one of there fatalities resulting from slips on hard-packed snow last winter.
Christchurch lawyer Dimity Anne Tomkins, 54, was skiing with her daughter on the southwest face of Mt Hutt, which is outside the designated ski area boundary, on July 12, 2010.
She slipped on an icy section of the run and fell onto her back, sliding into a gully and over numerous rocks before coming to a stop 866m down the mountain.
Her daughter, Charlotte Tomkins, was a long way from other skiers and had no reception on her cellphone. Two skiers well-qualified in alpine rescue spotted her.
Coroner Richard McElrea said Ms Tomkins' helmet had become dislodged at some point during the fall which resulted in her suffering fatal head and brain injuries.
She died in Christchurch Hospital shortly after she was taken there.
Ms Tomkins' death followed that of American student Rachel Barrett Swett and preceded that of a snowboarder on Mt Hutt a few weeks prior.
All three fatalities resulted from uncontrolled slides on icy surfaces, Mr McElrea said.
Ms Swett dropped off a track at Mt Hutt and slid nearly 130m before striking rock and catapulting into the air, landing on her head.
She and her three companions were not wearing helmets.
Mr McElrea recommended that Mt Hutt Ski Area manager NZ Ski Limited applies strict criteria for opening terrain - particularly off-trail terrain - in hard snow or icy conditions. He also recommended that they give clear warnings about such conditions and the resulting sliding hazard.
Mr McElrea said it was concerning that so many skiers and snowboarders still did not wear helmets and made a general recommendation that helmets be worn in mountainous terrain.
The coroner further recommended that NZ Ski monitored the previously unmonitored southwest face of Mt Hutt, where the fatality occurred.
