‘Genius’ engineer had climbing in his blood
A rock climber found dead on Banks Peninsula was a ‘‘genius’’ design engineer and highly skilled climber, his family and colleagues say.
Matthias Kerkmann, 54, failed to return home from his climbing trip to Peraki on Sunday. Searchers were hampered by darkness and poor weather conditions, but his body was found about 10.45am on Monday morning. His death has been referred to the coroner.
Climbing was Kerkmann’s ‘‘whole life’’ and took him all over the world, his wife Jane Kerkmann said.
He was a safe climber with more than 40 years’ experience, and rarely took risks, she said.
‘‘He was an honourable man who believed in doing things correctly ... he would do anything for his family.’’
Jane was his ‘‘Galway girl’’, the couple having met in the Irish city while they both worked there in 2002. They had one son, now aged 12.
Kerkmann, originally from Germany, died from a fall, but the circumstances into his death remain unclear.
He usually went climbing with a partner but didn’t at the weekend as it was a ‘‘spur of the moment’’ decision, his wife said. ‘‘It was in his blood. He’d often say he got a tingle in his fingers to go climbing just from looking at rocks.’’
The six climbing routes at Peraki Valley include a range of grades, including multi-pitch routes that require advanced climbing skills.
Kerkmann, who lived in Lincoln, had worked at engineering firm Wyma Solutions for the past 12 years, and managing director Andrew Barclay described him as a quirky man with an astute sense of humour who was ‘‘right up there with the best’’ in both design engineering and rock climbing.
He was an experienced, confident climber and mountaineer who had scaled Mt Aspiring solo during cold winter conditions on several occasions, Barclay said.
‘‘Something must’ve gone horribly wrong.’’
Kerkmann was the ‘‘embodiment of German precision – structured, accurate, and methodical’’ in both his work and personal lives, Barclay said. ‘‘He designed a number of machines that we sell globally, and he has managed some of our largest and most complex projects.’’
He would plan and map out each aspect of his life, including his work projects, climbing missions and social plans, and had a counter on his work computer screen counting down to his retirement.
Former colleague Jeremy Prendeville worked with Kerkmann over several years at Wyma and Xerox, and said he was a ‘‘very clever engineer.’’
Kerkmann was ‘‘the real-deal genius design engineer. He was difficult, and could be amazing.
‘‘It was a credit to Matthias’ character that he wasn’t more arrogant than he was, because he had incredible aspects of mind that I think would cause most people to be more arrogant than he was.’’