A U.S. climber was among two people killed Monday during a fall near the summit of Aoraki, New Zealand’s tallest peak, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
According to The Associated Press, the men were part of a four-person climbing group attempting the notoriously challenging mountain, also known as Mount Cook.
Two members of the group were rescued by helicopter late Monday night after a distress call was received. The remaining two could not be located, prompting overnight aerial searches.
Their bodies were discovered Tuesday morning, and specialists from rescue organizations and government agencies later recovered them, Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said.
“No identities have been released publicly at this stage,” Walker said, confirming that one of the deceased was from the United States. Authorities are coordinating with the U.S. consulate, and a New Zealand coroner will investigate the deaths.
The other victim was a highly regarded climbing guide and member of the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, the organization said in a statement.
Sgt. Kevin McErlain told The Timaru Herald that the two who died had been connected by a rope when they fell near the summit.
The climbers who survived included another guide and their client. Both were uninjured, though shaken by the incident.
Aoraki stands at 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) and is part of the Southern Alps, a scenic but treacherous range running the length of New Zealand’s South Island.
Its terrain is known for crevasses, shifting glaciers, avalanche risk, and unpredictable weather, making it a destination primarily for experienced mountaineers.
The peak has claimed over 240 lives in the national park since the early 20th century. Many climbers, including dozens who have disappeared, were never found.
In December 2024, three climbers—two Americans and a Canadian—were believed to have died on Aoraki, their bodies never recovered after being missing for five days.
Authorities and climbers alike are reminded of the mountain’s extreme hazards, with this latest tragedy underscoring the risks even seasoned mountaineers face on Aoraki’s icy slopes.
