Location: Wanaka
District: Southern

Name released of dead tourist

Short description: Name released of dead tourist

Full description:
MEDIA RELEASE
27 March 2012, 10.30am

Name released of British tourist that died in the Cardrona Valley near Wanaka.

The Wanaka Police have now released the name of the 26 year old British tourist who died near the Tuohy Saddle in the Cardrona Valley yesterday, Monday the 26th of March 2012, while on a mountain biking trip.

The deceased person was Philip Ross BERGMAN of Weston, Herefordshire, England and lately of North East Valley, Dunedin. Mr BERGMAN also has family in Western Australia.

It is understood that Mr BERGMAN has been in New Zealand since coming here during the Rugby World Cup in approximately September 2011.

Mr BERGMAN had just started mountain biking at approximately 2.00pm with others when he had a minor fall from his bike. He stood up and immediately collapsed again.

The area had cell phone coverage and the 111 system was used to call for medical assistance.

Attempts by his fellow cyclists and trained First Aiders from a commercial Mountain Biking company to resuscitate him continued until a medical team arrived by air, but Mr BERGMAN was declared dead at the scene.

He was transported by helicopter to Queenstown and has since been transferred to Dunedin for a post-mortem examination.

The matter is not being treated as suspicious or as a vehicle crash by Police and the matter has been referred to the Southern Coroner while the outcome of the post-mortem examination is awaited.

Mr BERGMAN's next of kin in both Australia & the United Kingdom have been advised of his death and they are understandably devastated.

Support for the British based family is being given via the British High Commission in Wellington and Victim Support in New Zealand are assisting local friends.

It is not anticipated that any further news release will follow this statement.

Derek Shaw
Acting Senior Sergeant
Wanaka

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