The following accident reports contain information provided by the Police, Air Rescue Services, Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Climbers and SAR recovery teams. Detail reports are only available 1998 onwards; prior data only logs fatalities and their brief causes.
Fatal Accidents in the Arthur's Pass (APNP) / Craigieburn Forest Park (CFP) / Korowai - Torlesse Tussocklands Park (KTTP) .. 1926 to present
|
Date | Location | Incident Brief |
2021 - x2 |
20 March 2021 | Rolleston River Valley - Arthur's Pass National Park | A body discovered in valley, believed to be missing tramper from Nov 2020. |
30 October 2021 | Mt Aicken - Arthur's Pass National Park | 1 person died after becoming disorientated and falling off a cliff. |
2020 - x1 |
14 January 2020 | Mt Cheeseman - Craigieburn Forest Park | 1 person died from paraglider crash. |
2019 - x2 |
6 July 2019 | Bealey Spur - Craigieburn Forest Park | 1 person died from hypothermia after becoming lost. |
13 April 2019 | Mt Lancelot - APNP | 1 person died after falling from lower bluffs. |
2018 - x3 |
22 October 2018 | Mt Harper - APNP | 1 person died after being dislodged by wet snow avalanche from Camp Spur. |
18 March 2018 | Temple Basin - APNP | 1 person died after falling 70m on Twin Falls creek. |
6 February 2018 | Hogs Back - CFP | 1 person died of natural causes whilst mountain biking. |
2016 - x3 |
1 December 2016 | Mt Harper - APNP | 1 person died after falling 150m on Camp Spur route. |
1 February 2016 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died after falling 50m on Otira Slide route. |
3 January 2016 | Deception River - APNP | 1 person drowned whilst crossing river. |
2014 - x2 |
15 September 2014 | Lake Lyndon - KTTP | 1 person drowned whilst recovering boat. |
19 March 2014 | Helicopter Hill - CFP | 1 person died of natural causes whilst walking. |
2009 - x1 |
12 September 2009 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person fell through ice bridge into deep chasm. |
2008 - x4 |
6 December 2008 | Waimakariri River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing river in high flow. |
26 October 2008 | Mt Philistine - APNP | 1 person fell 150m from Warnocks Bluff route. |
16 January 2008 | Craigieburn Range - CFP | 2 persons killed in light aircraft crash. |
2007 - x1 |
4 June 2007 | Avoca Valley - CFP | 1 person fell over cliff in upper valley. |
2006 - x3 |
15 March 2006 | Browning Pass - APNP | 1 person fell 200m over cliff. |
March 2006 | Cave Stream Reserve | 1 person fell over 8m cliff descending to cave entrance. | |
26 February 2006 | Mt Aicken - APNP | 1 person fell over cliff whilst off-route descending. |
2005 - x1 |
9 April 2005 | Mt Cassidy - APNP | 1 person fell over cliff whilst off-route descending. |
2004 - x2 |
5 October 2004 | Punchbowl Falls - APNP | 1 person drowned near Punchbowl Falls. |
6 February 2004 | Harper River - CFP | 1 person died of heart attack on Cass-Lagoon track. |
2003 - x2 |
21 June 2003 | Cave Stream Reserve | 1 person died of hypothermia in Cave Stream. |
9 March 2003 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person fell down bergschrund on Otira Slide route. |
2002 - x1 |
21 June 2002 | Mt Philistine - APNP | 1 person fell 70m from Warnocks Bluff route. |
2001 - x3 |
4 August 2001 | Mt Philistine - APNP | 1 person fell 100m from Warnocks Bluff route. |
11 April 2001 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person fell from into bergschrund from High Peak. |
8 April 2001 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person fell from bluffs on Otira Face route. |
2000 - x1 |
15 October 2000 | Temple Basin - APNP | 1 person fell 50-100m returning from ski-field. |
1999 - x1 |
20 February 1999 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person fell 250m whilst tramping. |
1998 - x2 |
29 April 1998 | Browning Pass - APNP | 1 person fell 150-200m whilst tramping. |
23 April 1998 | Hawdon / Sudden Valley - APNP | 1 person missing. Body not found. |
1997 - x1 |
24 May 1997 | Sudden Valley - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1996 - x5 |
30 June 1996 | Porter Heights - CFP | 1 person taken by avalanche. |
12 February 1996 | Hawdon River - APNP | 2 persons drowned whilst crossing flooded river. |
21 January 1996 | Arthur's Pass | 1 person died in helicopter crash. |
17 January 1996 | Tumbledown Creek - APNP | 1 person missing, presumed drowned. |
1995 - x3 |
11 November 1995 | Bealey River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
19 August 1995 | Temple Basin - APNP | 1 person died sliding down steep gully onto rocks below. |
24 April 1995 | Mount Harper - APNP | 1 person died when fell 60m over bluff, 200m down iceslope. |
1994 - x2 |
17 December 1994 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died whilst sliding down Goldney Glacier, over 60m cliff. |
8 January 1994 | Hurunui River (Harper Pass route) | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1993 - x2 |
15 May 1993 | Taramakau River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
17 April 1993 | Lyell Peak - APNP | 1 person died of heart attack. |
1992 - x3 |
14 November 1992 | Anti-Crow Stream - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
11 August 1992 | Broken River Ski field - CFP | 1 person taken by avalanche, body found 2 December 1992. |
14 March 1992 | Mts Philistine/Rolleston | 1 person disappeared whilst tramping, presumed dead. |
1991 - x3 |
5 April 1991 | Arthur's Pass - Mt Cook traverse | 1 person disappeared, no body found, presumed dead. |
15 February 1991 | APNP | 1 body found, no other information. |
3 February 1991 | APNP | 1 body found, no other information. |
1990 - x1 |
25 April 1990 | Edwards Valley - APNP | 1 person died of stroke whilst tramping. |
1989 - x2 |
10 May 1989 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person fell while tramping, remains found 30 October 1993. |
15 January 1989 | Avalanche Creek - APNP | 1 person fell 40m into plunge pool of waterall. |
1988 - x2 |
22 February 1988 | Mt Cassidy - APNP | 1 person fell over bluffs and died. |
1988? | Craigieburn Forest Park | 1 person collapsed and died whilst day tramping. |
1987 - x4 |
12 November 1987 | Arthur's Pass - APNP | 1 person found dead in car. |
29 October 1987 | Cave Stream Reserve | 1 person drowned after falling. |
19 September 1987 | Broken River Ski Field - CFP | 1 person died after sliding into rocky gully. |
16 January 1987 | Deception River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1986 - x1 |
14 September 1986 | Mt Hamilton - CFP | 1 person died as result of ski fall onto rocks. |
1984 - x3 |
28 October 1984 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died after fall from Low Peak. |
1 June 1984 | Temple Col - APNP | 1 person died as result of very high fall. |
26 January 1984 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died after fall of 300m into bergschrund. |
1983 - x2 |
15 May 1983 | Waimakariri Col - APNP | 1 person died as a result of 30m + 200m fall. |
31 March 1983 | Browning Pass - APNP | 1 person died from injuries sustained in fall. |
1982 - x3 |
30 December 1982 | Mt Murchison - APNP | 2 persons died as result of summit cornice collapse. |
13 July 1982 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person died from fall onto rocks. |
1981 - x1 |
12 July 1981 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person died as result of exposure after 45m fall on snow tussock. |
1980 - x1 |
27 April 1980 | Waimakariri Falls - APNP | 1 person fell 80m from bluff. |
1979 - x6 |
13 December 1979 | Klondyke Corner - APNP | 4 person died as a result of landslip engulfing campsite. |
1979 | Anti-Crow Stream - APNP | 1 person fell onto rocks then into stream - drowned. |
13 June 1979 | Hawdon River - APNP | 1 person fell from track into river and drowned. |
1978 - x2 |
23 November 1978 | Anti-Crow Stream - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
12 March 1978 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person died as result of climbing accident. |
1977 - x1 |
26 March 1977 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died as a result of 22m fall on Otira Slide. |
1976 - x1 |
8 December 1976 | Waimakariri Gorge | 1 person drowned in rafting accident. |
1975 - x6 |
8 November 1975 | Bealey/Mingha River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
25 August 1975 | Temple Basin - APNP | 1 person died in avalanche. |
27 May 1975 | 7 Mile Creek - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
25 February 1975 | Clough Cableway - APNP | 2 person died as result of helicopter crash into cableway. |
30 January 1975 | White River - APNP | 1 person died from heart attack. |
1973 - x1 |
16 September 1973 | Waimakariri Col - APNP | 1 person died from fall down 30m bluff. |
1972 - x4 |
12 November 1972 | Cora Lyn - Waimak River | 1 person drowned as result of rafting accident. |
13 May 1972 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 2 persons died as result of climbing accident on Otira Slide. |
3 April 1972 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died as result of climbing accident on Bealey Slide. |
1971 - x1 |
30 March 1971 | Avalanche - Rolleston Ridge - APNP | 1 person died from exposure caused by medical condition. |
1969 - x1 |
2 August 1969 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person died in avalanche. |
1967 - x3 |
8 April 1967 | Mingha River - APNP | 2 persons drowned crossing flooded river. |
22 March 1967 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died after fall into bergschrund on Otira Slide. |
1966 - x5 |
24 June 1966 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 4 persons died as a result of a climbing accident on the Otira Face. |
24 June 1966 | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died as result of avalanche on Otira Slide whilst part of rescue for incident above. |
1965 - x1 |
15 November 1965 | Otehake River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1964 - x1 |
28 March 1964> | Mt Rolleston - APNP | 1 person died from fall while climbing. |
1963 - x2 |
23 August 1960 | Bridal Veil Falls - APNP | 2 persons died from fall during traverse above waterfall. |
1959 - x1 |
13 November 1959> | Goat Creek - APNP | 1 person died after falling during traverse of bluffs. |
1956 - x4 |
26 January 1956 | Wilberforce River - APNP | 1 person drowned while crossing high river. |
31 March 1956 | APNP | 1 person died from fall off bluff. |
31 March 1956 | Mt Harper - APNP | 1 person died when struck on head by rock whilst climbing. |
18 November 1956 | APNP | 1 person died as result of hunting accident. |
1955 - x2 |
4 August 1955 | APNP | 1 person died in avalanche. |
9 July 1955 | Bridal Veil Falls - APNP | 1 person died after falling over bluff at night - was climbing Mt Cassidy. |
1954 - x1 |
15 February 1954 | White River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1950 - x3 |
22 July 1950 | Torlesse Range - TTP | 3 persons died when overwhelmed by avalanche. |
1949 - x1 |
27 December 1949 | Taramakau River - APNP | 1 person drowned crossing flooded river. |
1942 - x1 |
27 August 1942 | Temple Basin - APNP | 1 person died when overwhelmed by slab avalanche. |
1935 - x2 |
26 December 1935 | CFP | 2 persons drowned while crossing flooded river. |
1933 - x1 |
1 July 1933 | Avalanche Peak - APNP | 1 person died when overwhelmed by avalanche. |
1932 - x2 |
1932 | Taipoiti River - APNP | 2 persons died, one as result of fall, other from exposure. |
1926 - x1 |
August 1926 | Waimakariri River - APNP | 1 person drowned as result of rafting accident. |