Authorities in New Zealand have recovered the bodies of two climbers—one of whom was a U.S. national—after the pair fell to their deaths while attempting to summit Mount Cook, the country’s highest peak. Police confirmed the tragic incident on Wednesday, noting that the climbers were part of a guided expedition.
The two men were climbing as part of a group of four, consisting of two New Zealand-based mountain guides and two clients. While attempting to traverse a ridge on the 3,724-metre (12,218-foot) Mount Cook, also known by its Māori name Aoraki, the pair fell from the ridge onto the western face of the mountain late on Monday night. Police have not yet released the names of the victims.
Authorities were alerted to the emergency at approximately 11:20 p.m. (1020 GMT) on Monday. A search and rescue team was immediately deployed, and by the early hours of Tuesday, rescuers successfully located the other two group members uninjured. However, the search for the missing climbers continued throughout the night.
Helicopters scoured the area in challenging alpine conditions, ultimately locating the two missing men deceased at 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Their bodies were recovered around midday after a difficult operation in steep and icy terrain.
“We can now begin the process of returning these men to their families,” said Inspector Vicki Walker, Canterbury Aoraki Area Commander, in an official statement. “I want to thank all of those involved in the rescue and recovery. It has been a difficult period, most of all for the families of the two climbers and the wider community.”
Inspector Walker confirmed that one of the victims was a U.S. national, adding to the international significance of the tragedy.
The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council released a statement acknowledging the loss, noting that one of the deceased was an internationally certified mountain guide with years of experience. “He was a respected and valued member of the guiding community,” the Council said. The second victim was his client, who had been connected to him by rope at the time of the fall.
Search and Rescue pilot Nigel Gee, who was part of the recovery effort, provided further insight into the accident. Speaking with local broadcaster 1News, he explained that the two men were roped together when they slipped from the ridge. “They both slipped and went possibly about a 1,500-foot slide,” he said, describing the sheer magnitude of the fall.
Mount Cook is known for its treacherous climbing conditions. Over the past century, dozens of climbers have died on its slopes, where rockfalls, ice collapses, and sudden avalanches make the ascent particularly hazardous. The mountain sits within Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, a region renowned for its rugged peaks and extensive glaciers, which attract climbers from around the world.
Despite improvements in safety and technology, officials say the alpine environment remains unforgiving, and this latest tragedy underscores the inherent risks of high-altitude mountaineering.
