The name of the climber who died yesterday while climbing the Homer Saddle in Fiordland has been released by police.
He was Athol Whimp, 50, a New Zealander born in Rangiora who had been living in Australia for the last 20 years.
Police said he was an experienced mountain climber who was on holiday in New Zealand.
Mr Whimp slipped and fell 800m about 9.30am yesterday and his two companions alerted police. He was not wearing a harness.
It took an hour for the rescue team to recover the body today which was being taken to Invercargill’s Southland Hospital for an autopsy.
Police search and rescue members, Alpine Mountain Rescue members and Southern Lakes Helicopters took part in the recovery.
3 News
source: newshub archive
