Fatal trek leadership called into question

The New Zealand leader of an illfated trekking trip to India told a mourning group member the death of fellow trekker Janet ‘‘Jan’’ Nye was ‘‘her own fault’’, day two of an inquest into Nye’s death has been told.

Nye, a 68-year-old Wellington woman, died on October 6, 2018, after developing altitude sickness while on the now-defunct Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) Travel Club trek to Ladakh. While Nye’s death occurred overseas, her family raised concerns about the circumstances with the New Zealand Coronial Services Unit and the Ministry of Justice. Coroner Peter Ryan was assigned to investigate.

Experienced mountaineer Joe Nawalaniec acted as the trip leader, working with local guiding company Haya Himalaya.

When recounting his version of events, day two’s opening witness, trekker Roger Young, said Nawalaniec addressed the remaining group members at a dinner just hours after Nye’s passing.

‘‘He did not once mention Jan’s name, acknowledge her passing, nor mention the circumstances of her death,’’ Young said.

In the days following, Nawalaniec was asked by a group member, ‘‘how the fatality occurred’’.

‘‘Joe replied that ‘it was Jan’s fault. She made some bad decisions and they cost her her life’. His response distressed us terribly,’’ Young said.

At a meeting held before Nye’s death and without Nawalaniec present, several members ‘‘voiced concerns about the itinerary given the adverse weather, short acclimatisation period, adverse reactions to altitude, and a lack of confidence in trip leadership’’, Young said.

During that meeting, Young, showing symptoms of altitude sickness, said he told the group he didn’t have confidence that his