A 30-year-old snowboarder caught in an avalanche on Coronet Peak tonight has died at Lakes District Hospital.
Queenstown police said the man was found about 7.15pm after a search and rescue mission.
He was given medical attention and flown to the Lakes District Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
He was from the Queenstown area and close family members were with him at the time of the avalanche, police said.
The death will be referred to the Coroner.
No further details of the deceased would be released until other members of the family were advised.
The man was one of a group of three snowboarders who triggered the avalanche about 5pm.
The man's two companions returned to the skifield's base to raise the alarm about 5.25pm.
Police were told about 5pm of the avalanche which was thought to have happened at the Greengate chairlift about 4.40pm.
A rescue mission was carried out by searchers with lighting and alpine rescue dogs, southern police communications Inspector Warren Kemp said.
Police had been concentrating on the rescue and would later look into the details of what had happened, he told NZPA.
The slip happened in a valley adjacent to the main ski area, 3news reported. NZSki, which operates the ski area, said the avalanche happened outside its boundaries.
There had been several avalanches in the back country areas of Coronet Peak recently, spokesperson Alexa Forbes told Radio New Zealand.
