Climber Dies In The Mt Aspiring National Park.

Wanaka SAR Alpine Cliff Rescue team were deployed at about 4pm today after a report of a climber having fallen while ascending the track to Liverpool Hut.

Wanaka SAR Co-ordinator, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said that the group of four were from Otago University and members of the Otago Tramping Club.

One of the party had slipped and fallen while traversing a steep icy section of the track just below the Liverpool Hut. He tried to self arrest but could not slow the fall and slid down a steep and rocky snow gully for about 100 metres before coming to rest at the bush line.

Sergeant Nicholson said that the young man had died instantly from his injuries received during the fall. One member of the party left to raise the alarm while the other two remained with their friend until the rescue team arrived.

The group were all in their late teens, early 20s and 3 of them had been friends for some time. They had just started climbing about a year ago and had climbed a number of well known peaks.

Their intentions were to climb the East ridge of Mt Barff Sergeant Nicholson said. The deceased was wearing running shoes when he fell and Police believed this to be a major contributor to the accident.

The deceased is Leonard Alexander PHEASE, age 19 years, from Dunedin and was studying at Otago University.

The matter has been reported to the Coroner accordingly.

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