Tramper's decision to leave group factor in death

An inexperienced tramper broke the "golden rule'' of tramping by splitting with his companions to continue along a river, an inquest heard in Queenstown today.

The body of Scott James Oliver (41), of Wellington, was found by a tramper on January 22 on the open riverbed, about 15km downstream from where he was last seen alive.

His partner, Rachel Smith, told Otago-Southland coroner David Crerar she was an experienced tramper who knew "the golden rule of tramping is don't split up'', but could not dissuade Mr Oliver from going alone.

Mr Oliver was last seen on January 4 on a track in the upper reaches of the Wilkin River in Mt Aspiring National Park, west of Makarora.

It was the second-to-last day of a six-day tramp of the Young and Wilkins valleys by the couple and Ms Smith's father and brother. The party was on the return leg of a day trip from its campsite at Jumboland flat to Lake Lucidis via top Forks Hut.

Police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, of Wanaka, said Mr Oliver had probably lost his footing while trying to cross the river at the entrance to a gorge, been caught in the rapids and pinned under a rock underwater.

A report by Mountain Safety Council acting operations manager Nathan Watson concluded that Mr Oliver's decision to travel down the river by himself 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 inherent danger of the gorge.

Mr Crerar's formal written finding was reserved.

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