Witness to Crater Lake body retrieval says it was lucky more people didn't fall

Saturday, 22 September 2018

The Mt Ruapehu crater lake, where a man is believed to have died this afternoon.

A woman who saw the body of man being retrieved from Crater Lake at Mt Ruapehu, says it was lucky more didn't fall on the mountain's icy landscape.

Hazel Phillips, who was at Whakapapa as part of a group of ski tourers on Saturday afternoon, witnessed some of the retrieval.

'This is a very sad outcome,' Phillips said.

'Conditions were windy and icy underfoot near the Col and this presents a sliding risk.'

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The man was recovered from the lake by members of the group but later died.

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'We also witnessed someone fall while descending Dome, lose his ice axe and thankfully come to a stop on a flat part of the Whakapapa Col. He was badly equipped and not experienced.'

He was lucky to not land in the Crater Lake too, she said.

'With spring conditions softening the snow above the lifts on Ruapehu, this is a high risk time as people who aren't used to serious alpine conditions begin to venture into unpatrolled and uncontrolled terrain.

'The Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation and the RAL ski patrollers do an incredible job of helping people inside and outside of the back country on our maunga.'

It was a timely reminder for all back country snow users to ensure their skills were honed and their gear was correct, she said.

Emergency services were flown to the scene via helicopter at around 1.50pm.

MetService's lead meteorologist Mark Todd said conditions were largely fine and sunny during Saturday, but expected it to turn frosty this evening.

In September last year adventurer Richard Ebbett went missing after heading to the Whakapapa ski field, and his body was later located in the Crater Lake.

The death will be referred to the Coroner.