Tragedy on Aoraki/Mount Cook
A mountaineering guide and their client have fallen to their deaths from the summit ridge of Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. The fatal incident occurred on Monday night, November 24, casting a shadow over the country's alpine community.
Details of the Fatal Fall
The pair were part of a team of four climbers attempting a grand traverse of the mountain. The group consisted of two IFMGA-qualified guides and their two clients. According to the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA), the fall happened at approximately 11:50 PM on Monday.
The two other members of the climbing party, who were unharmed, were successfully escorted down from the summit ridge. The identities of the deceased have not yet been formally released by the police.
Community in Mourning and Official Response
The guiding community is reeling from the loss. NZMGA President Anna Keeling paid tribute to the guide, describing them as 'an integral part of the guiding community'. The association's immediate focus is on supporting the guide's partner and children, as well as the wider guiding network, during this difficult time.
Mike Daisley, Chief Executive of the Mountain Safety Council (MSC), noted that the recent fine weather had drawn many mountaineers to the high alpine, with multiple teams summiting Aoraki/Mount Cook over the past week. He described current conditions as 'ideal for mountaineering' but issued a sobering reminder.
"These mountaineering fatalities are a reminder of the high-consequence environment of our alpine mountains, especially our highest peak," Daisley stated. "Mountaineering has very little margin for error. Even the most qualified professionals cannot eliminate all risk."
This tragedy echoes a similar incident in December 2024, when three climbers, including two overseas guides, died on Aoraki/Mount Cook. Their bodies were never recovered.
The NZMGA has confirmed that a formal investigation into this latest incident will be conducted in due course to understand the circumstances that led to the tragic accident.
