Tramper could not be dissuaded

An inexperienced tramper may have been feeling invincible because the weather was fine, the turquoise water of the Wilkin River was ''alluring'' and he was unburdened by a pack, his partner has told an inquest in Queenstown.

The body of Scott James Oliver (41), of Wellington, was found by a tramper on January 22 about 15km downstream from where he was last seen alive in Mt Aspiring National Park, west of Makarora.

Rachel Smith told Otago Southland coroner David Crerar she was an experienced tramper who knew the ''golden rule'' of hiking was never to split up, but she could not dissuade Mr Oliver from continuing alone down the river.

Although capable, physically fit and a strong swimmer, he had little tramping experience, she said.

Mr Oliver was last seen on January 4 on a track in the upper reaches of the Wilkin River.

It was the second last day of a six day tramp of the Young and Wilkin valleys by the couple and Ms Smith's father and brother.

The trampers were on the return leg of a day trip from their campsite at Jumboland Flats to Lake Lucidus via Top Forks Hut. Police search and rescue co ordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said searchers found Mr Oliver's last footprints on the riverbank at the entrance to a gorge.

He had probably lost his footing while trying to cross the river at that point, and been caught in the gorge rapids, pinned underwater against a rock.

A report by Mountain Safety Council acting operations manager Nathan Watson concluded that Mr Oliver's decision to travel downriver alone was the main contributing factor in his death - a decision exacerbated by his lack of river crossing experience, possible physical and mental tiredness, and the gorge's inherent danger.

Mr Crerar's formal written finding was reserved.

Tomorrow Mr Crerar will preside over the joint inquest for Wing Fai Chan (60), also known as Allan, Kwai Tei Chong (61), also known as Connie, and Yin Wan Ng (56), all of Hong Kong, who died on November 6 last year near Luggate.

The trio were part of a party of nine travelling New Zealand in two separate vehicles when their rental van collided with a truck and trailer unit on State Highway 6.

 

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