Location: Mount Aspiring
District: Southern

Body of missing tramper located

The body of a 38 year male German tourist was recovered today from the Cascade Saddle area on the Mt Aspiring National Park.

Acting SAR coordinator Snr Constable Mike Johnston of the Wanaka Police said a friend of the German tramper had contacted the Police on the 23rd of December and reported that the German was overdue from a solo tramp in the National Park which he started on the 29th of November.

The body of the German male was located after an aerial search by helicopter of a section of the Cascade Saddle track approaching the area known as the 'pylon'. This area of the Cascade track has had previous fatalities.

The deceased has fallen on a snow patch very near the top of the climb. He has been unable to stop his fall and slid down the snow and over the edge of a ridge into a near vertical gully, stopping approximately 200 metres below.

A technical body recovery was conducted by Wanaka Land SAR ACR, Wanaka Police personnel, and Mt Aspiring helicopters.

Snr Constable Johnston can only reinforce the message that has previously been said, "This steep and challenging 'poled' route over the Cascade Saddle is an alpine environment which requires a high level of risk and in turn a high level of skill. This route should not be attempted unless key factors have been evaluated, such as, fitness, alpine experience, weather, and equipment. Falling in this slippery and steep terrain is unforgiving".

The name of the deceased will be released once family members in Germany have been contacted. Police wish to express their sympathy to the family and friends who are receiving this tragic news on Christmas.

No further media comment will be made today

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