A 51-year-old male tourist from Germany has died while descending Mt Ngauruhoe in the Tongariro National Park.
The man was hiking with his wife at about 1.45 pm on Saturday the 20th of December 2014 when he collapsed.
His wife’s cry for help was answered by a nearby climber who initiated CPR and called emergency services.
The Greenlea Taupo Rescue helicopter was deployed with a Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) team but low cloud, strong winds, and rain meant they were only able to get rescuers to the base of Mt Ngauruhoe.
Land Search and Rescue volunteers from the Central North Island were then forced to make their way up to the male on foot to recover his body.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
Media enquiries should be referred to Constable Conrad Smith
O/C National Park Police (07) 892 2869