Media Release in Canterbury District

The body of the tourist who was missing in the Mount Cook National park was recovered by Department of Conservation and Police staff today.

His name is unable to be released as yet due to a delay in contacting next of kin.

He had been in New Zealand for several weeks and was travelling alone. He had walked the Mueller Track the day before the incident and stayed one night at the Mueller Hut.

He left the hut the next morning for the return journey, but it appears that he has deviated from the well marked track for some reason. He has then got himself into some very steep rocky terrain where he has slipped or fallen down an almost vertical rock face.

He was located at the foot of a small waterfall near the edge of the glacier. The alarm was raised on Tuesday when he hadn't checked out of the park and his car was still in the car park at the start of the track. He also failed to connect with his accommodation booking in Oamaru on Monday night. The incident has been ref!
erred to the Coroner.