Climber killed after slipping and falling while climbing Mount Ruapehū

A woman died after a group climb on Mount Ruapehū went wrong yesterday.

The woman was in a group of nine who were heading to the east side of the mountain and through the rocks of the cathedral.

At around 12:30 p.m., the woman slipped and fell down a slope.

One of her climbing buddies approached her and contacted emergency services.

Due to the very strong winds, it could not be reached by helicopter, so search and rescue teams were deployed on the ground.

SAR teams found her and her companions around 5.40pm.

The woman was carried out on a stretcher and the others were escorted to Tukino Lodge.

She was pronounced dead at the shelter.

This morning, the local hapū Ngāti Hikairo blessed the site.

“This is an absolutely tragic event for the woman who died, her family and friends, and her fellow climbers,” said Sheriff Barry Shepherd.

“Many in the group were relatively new climbers, but they were well prepared and although the weather changed throughout the day, when they got out, the conditions were right.

“While this was not the outcome anyone wanted, I want to acknowledge the bravery of those in the group who came down for several hours to help her, as well as two other climbers who crossed the scene and stopped to help her.

“I also want to thank all the men and women of LandSAR who worked tirelessly through the afternoon and into the night in absolutely shocking weather to return the deceased to his family and rescue the rest of the group from the mountain.”