The Owaka pest contractor crushed by a large rock while laying bait near Omarama on Monday was a well-respected search and rescue volunteer who would be missed by many, police said yesterday.
Deane Shute (49) was killed while laying possum bait at Omarama Station.
He was a long-time pest control worker who worked with the Department of Conservation and other agencies throughout the South.
Sergeant Wayne Brew, of Oamaru, said yesterday it appeared Mr Shute was working alone when a large boulder came loose on a steep slope, trapping him beneath it.
His death has been referred to the coroner. The Department of Labour is also investigating the accident.
Family friend and Owaka police officer Constable Murray Hewitson said Mr Shute's death would be felt throughout the Catlins community.
A long-time search and rescue volunteer, Mr Shute was involved in countless operations over the years.
He was, for many years, a police adviser and his extensive knowledge of the area's rugged countryside was regularly used in searches in the region.
"Nobody knew more about search and rescue in the Catlins than he did," Const Hewitson said.
Mr Shute often took a leading role in ground searches as he knew so many parts of the often difficult terrain in the Catlins bush.
He was less involved in recent years because of his increasing work commitments.
Const Hewitson said Mr Shute was a devoted family man.
Two sons worked with him in the pest control business.
One of his sons had been working in the area with his father at the time of the accident.
Mr Shute was last seen by members of the possum-trapping party at 8.30am and was found unconscious about 3.30pm.
Const Hewitson said Mr Shute's family, who live at Jacks Bay near Owaka, were "bearing up, considering the situation".
