Tourist hikers thought mate turned back on Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Wednesday, 3 October 2018

Senior Constable Barry Shepherd with Ngati Hikairo.

Three tourists freedom travelling the country thought their companion had turned back to the carpark when they became separated tramping the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

But the 54-year-old had continued.

The rāhui is in place until sunrise on Saturday.

He never made it back to his wife in the carpark and his body was found between Red Crater and South Crater the following morning.

Police released the man's name on Wednesday afternoon - he was Sateesh Babu Halehally-Chikkanna of Bangalore, India.

He and three others were part of a group of eight from India travelling the country in a mini-bus.

Magesh Jagadeesan was killed after falling into the Ruapehu crater lake just over a week earlier.

* Taupo resident found dead at Ruapehu Crater Lake

* Mt Ruapehu crater lake tragedy claims hero Richard Ebbett

* Witness to Crater Lake body retrieval says it was lucky more people didn't fall

* Rescued girl pays tribute to hero who died on Mt Ruapehu**

They were dropped off at the Ketetahi end of the popular crossing at 8am on Monday intending to undertake a day tramp to Mangatepopo, Taupō police search and rescue Sergeant Barry Shepherd said.

The group stayed together until the bush gave way below Ketetahi Hut. There three of the men separated from Halehally-Chikkanna. They believed he'd turned back to the car park, Shepherd said.

As the three men continued on they changed track near Emerald Lake and took the easterly route to Oturere Hut.

'When they got to that hut at 2.20pm they called police. They said they were cold and wet and needed help.'

With weather unsuitable for flying, Shepherd told the men they'd have to stay at the hut until the weather cleared or walk out.

A search party was sent in and met the men as they walked towards the Waihohonu Hut. They were taken back to the Desert Rd.

'They thought their mate had gone back to the carpark and the more we questioned them that was not the case.'

It wasn't until the Halehally-Chikkanna's wife phoned police around 5pm saying he hadn't returned to the carpark where the group was waiting that police became aware he was missing.

'That's when we started the search in earnest.'

Search teams were sent in, looking in 'less than ideal' conditions in the dark with about three to five metres of visibility, Shepherd said.

They searched until 11pm on Monday and resumed again on Tuesday with assistance from Taupō's Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.

Halehally-Chikkanna body was found between Red Crater and South Crater.

'It is terribly tragic and so sad. It saddens me as a local.'

Weather on Monday seemed okay, Shepherd said, but it deteriorated as forecast throughout the day.

Members of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, police, Hillary Outdoors, the Department of Conservation along with searchers from Turangi SAR and the Greenlea Taupo Rescue helicopter gathered at Mangatepopo Road at 3pm on Tuesday where a karakia was performed by Ngati Hikairo.

Shepherd said it was an emotional time for rescuers who gathered with those travelling with the man.

'As tangata whenua we need to look after our visitors, the manuhiri, but we can only do so much.'

There were four key messages to people thinking of making the trek on the Tongariro Crossing, Shepherd said.

'People must be prepared to turn back; they must check the weather forecast; they must be dressed properly, and they must stick together and look after each other.

'Almost all deaths are preventable on Mt Tongariro.'

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is now closed until the weekend.

The Department of Conservation announced on Tuesday evening that a rāhui had been placed on the track and would remain in place until sunrise on Saturday.

In a post on RARO's Facebook page, Conrad Smith said the search was a 'real team effort'.

'Tough day today, never the result anyone wants but glad to be able to return a loved one to their family.

'When you play tennis you don't wear cricket gear - same goes when you climb a mountain.

'Please have the appropriate clothing and equipment, stay together and look after each other, research your intended route and leave intentions.

'The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not an easy walk it is an alpine crossing.

'Take care friends, don't be scared to turn back, the mountains will always be there tomorrow.'

Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said the difference between Taupō and Red Crater, the track summit, can catch people unaware.

'Taupo is at around 360m above sea level, and Red Crater is at around 1800m. That leads to a ten-degree drop in atmospheric temperature as you climb to the summit. So if it's 15 degrees in Taupo you need to be ready for 5 degrees at the summit.

'Then, you'll need to factor in 'wind chill' of one degree for every 10km/h of wind. It's not uncommon to have 50km'h+ of wind in exposed places, so there's another 5 degrees less to add to the equation.

'You need to be ready for zero degrees on the track.'

Sticking together as a group is the recommended policy, he said.

'The real tragedy is that this incident appears to have been preventable, and should serve as a stark reminder to all people exploring alpine regions of New Zealand that when things go wrong in this kind of environment the consequences are often very high.'

The latest death comes a little over a week after Lower Hutt man Magesh Jagadeesan died in a freak accident at Ruapehu's crater lake.

The experienced hiker and search and rescue volunteer was one of a group of five that set out on Saturday, September 22, intending to hike up the summit plateau, build a snow cave and spend the night on the mountain.

The group met at Whakapapa village early morning on the 'bluebird day' and after reaching Dome Ridge walked down to a flat area close to the Crater Lake when tragedy struck.

One of the group's packs began sliding on the ice, sending gear out of it.

Two of the group went after the gear with one managing to stop. But Jagadeesan kept sliding and plunged metres off the edge into the crater lake.

In a statement DOC said the rāhui is a physical and spiritual tool to manage human activity around a site where there has been loss of life.

'To show respect, all climbers and trampers are notified that the Tongariro Alpine Crossing is closed. Therefore, consider alternative hikes during the rāhui.'