Australian soldier dies on Mount Cook

Aoraki Mount Cook. File photo / Doug Sherring

New Zealand police have confirmed that an Australian man has died on Aoraki-Mt Cook after falling 40 metres down a crevasse on the Grand Plateau.

#Australian media have reported that the man was an Australian #soldier who was taking part in a training exercise.

Police said the 44-year-old man was one of a party of 10 people and fell shortly after midday today.

The victim's body has been recovered and has been flown back to the Mount Cook Emergency Service Centre. and police are now advising the next of kin.

The matter has been referred to the Coroner.

Alpine Guides manager Arthur McBride told the Herald he had heard one person had been "involved in an accident on the Grand Plateau".

"There were helicopters all over the place".

The location of the accident was "a long way away" from a large rock avalanche, reported yesterday, on the south face of Mt Cook, he said.

The Australian Defence Ministry was said to be preparing a statement.

- more to come
NZ Herald