Climber dies in 50m fall above Gorge Road
A male climber has died today after falling 50 metres while rock climbing in the rocky crags overlooking the Matakauri Park walkway behind Gorge Road Retail Centre on the outskirts of central Queenstown – a popular spot for climbers.
Queenstown Police Senior Sergeant Steve Watt says the tragedy occurred around midday and Police and emergency services, including St John Ambulance staff and the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue Team, rushed to the scene. Unfortunately, the man, understood to be with a female companion, had died during the fall and the matter has been referred to the Coroner.
He was climbing off a popular track up to cliff faces overlooking Gorge Road, on the right as the road heads to Arthurs Point.
Watt says Police could not release the man’s age or where he was from, or any further details about his climbing experience, until his next of kin have been advised.
Police remained at the scene for some time gathering any items of interest to help ascertain what happened.
Queenstown Climbing Club committee member and climbing guidebook author Guillaume Charton says the local climbing fraternity is in shock about the tragedy. “We will be awaiting the outcome of the Coroner’s inquest to know just what happened,” he says.
“We enjoy climbing in this beautiful area and to hear this makes us very sad. We feel deeply for this person’s family and friends.”
He says the terrain in the Queenstown Lakes Central Otago area can be challenging and climbers and people exploring the outdoors always need to take every precaution, especially around cliffs and bluffs.
