AN Australian man has died after falling down a steep ravine in New Zealand’s South Island.
The 66-year-old man was on a hunting trip with his son in the Fox Glacier Valley on Wednesday when he fell down the ravine located 1800 metres up in the Westland Ranges.
The New Zealand Herald reported the man is from NSW, however this has not yet been confirmed by DFAT.
According to the New Zealand Police, the son found the father at the bottom of the ravine after becoming separated around midday.
In a statement today, the Police wrote: “When the son called out to his father, and got no reply, he went looking for him”.
“Shortly after 1pm he found his father down a ravine with head injuries and went to his aid.
“The son set off the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which called out a rescue helicopter immediately.
“That helicopter could not land in the high country, so the rescue helicopter from Greymouth was called out to assist.”
The son was then winched to safety by the helicopter after 7pm last night.
Search and Rescue teams and Police from Fox Glacier are searching the area to recover the hunter.
Police extend their sympathies to the family at this sad time.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it was providing assistance to the man’s family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing assistance, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter, to the family of an Australian man who died in New Zealand. Due to our privacy obligations, we will not provide further comment.”