Run on which skier died ‘not a reckless thing’

SKIING from the top of Mt Aspiring is considered challenging but it is not uncommon.

A 35yearold American man died while skiing the mountain on Saturday.

His body was recovered by Wanaka Search and Rescue volunteers and an Aspiring Helicopters crew.

Wanaka LandSAR chairman Bill Day told the Otago Daily

Times yesterday two members of his organisation climbed the mountain then skied off the top about two weeks ago.

‘‘It’s a pretty challenging thing to do, but not a thing that’s reckless or anything like that,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s an adventure.

‘‘It’s a step beyond my skill set.’’

Mr Day said the American man’s body was recovered from the Bonar Glacier after he fell from the mountain.

The rescue coordination centre was alerted by a beacon activation about 1.30pm on Saturday.

Police said another skier with the man at the time had attempted to give him first aid.

Police were in the process of locating the man’s family.

The tragedy was one of two mountain deaths on Saturday.

It occurred just 20 minutes before another man died after falling into Crater Lake at Mt Ruapehu, in the North Island.

Emergency services flew to the scene of that accident about 1.50pm.

When they arrived, the climber’s body had already been retrieved from the lake by members of the group he was climbing with.

Police said in a statement the man’s death would be referred to the coroner.