No-one was to blame for the death of a Dunedin resident during a tramping trip in Mount Aspiring National Park on December 5, 2009, Coroner David Crerar concluded at an inquest in Queenstown yesterday.
Australian-born Karl Walter Quaass (30) had been on a planned tramping trip with eight friends from Dunedin, when he fell during a descent on the final day of their three-day walk.
He fell about 30m, hitting his head on rocks and losing consciousness.
Based on the autopsy report, the coroner said Mr Quaass had died as a result of severe head injury with extensive skull fracture along with spine fractures.
The coroner did not agree with a statement from police suggesting the group should have known Mr Quaass was not experienced enough for the trip.
The group of nine trampers included Mr Quaass' partner, Heidi Baillie, and the members of the group had different levels of tramping experience.
Mr Quaass was among the least experienced, but was a keen basketball and cricket player, and considered to be in good health.
The tramp took them over the Wilmot Saddle towards Ruth Flat on the east branch of the Matukituki River catchment in Mount Aspiring National Park near Wanaka.
As they were getting up to the higher sections of their route, they encountered much more snow than expected.
Ben Nicholls, a member of the group, had been tramping with Mr Quaass before, and during a 2006 trip had noticed his friend sweating profusely and his legs shaking.
During their fatal trip in 2009 he also noticed Mr Quaass struggling with shaking legs.
Mr Nicholls said he saw Mr Quaass fall about 7pm, as he was lowering himself down over an edge by holding on to vegetation.
Mr Quaass could not find his footing and lost his grip, plunging about 30m to 40m, hitting rocks several times before coming to a stop lying face down with his backpack still on.
His friends tried to revive him, but even after 30 minutes' CPR they were unsuccessful.
Three members of the group went for help, reaching their cars about 5.30am the following day.
When they were able to call for help, a rescue helicopter was sent to the scene to recover the rest of the group.
Constable Michael Ian Johnston, of Wanaka, was called to the scene as a member of Wanaka police search and rescue.
He said the tragedy might have been avoided.
"I believe that some of the members of this group, and in particular Karl Quaass, did not have the required experience or skill set to be undertaking an alpine route of this nature," he said.
"It is incumbent on the people accepting responsibility for managing the tramp to be cognisant of the disparity of experience and ensure that the intended route and objective is within the capabilities of the slowest or least experienced member in the group," Const Johnston said.
Mr Crerar said he would consider making recommendations in light of Mr Quaass' death, possibly relating to marking of trails.
But he concluded the inquest by saying no member of the group was to blame as the deceased knew what he was getting himself into, and had made the choice to join the trip.
The coroner reserved his findings.
