KEY POINTS:
A Danish woman who fell while climbing in Mt Cook National Park yesterday died last night in Christchurch Hospital.
She was Rikke Marie Prior, 25, of Lygbe in Denmark.
When Ms Prior tripped and fell 300m near Annette Plateau about 7.30am a guide tried desperately to catch her.
She was rescued by helicopter and flown to Christchurch.
The woman was one of four people on a basic mountaineering course led by a guide from Alpine Guides.
"The group had previously practised ice axe and crampon technique in good conditions near [Mueller] Hut," the company said.
"As the group set off for more training on the plateau, the woman tripped and was unable to self-arrest. The female guide on the course tried to catch her, but was unsuccessful. It appears that the woman may have hit a rock during the fall."
Inspector Bob Palmer said in Christchurch that Ms Prior and her partner had been in the country since about August and had been planning to stay for about a year.
"Ms Prior's family have been contacted in Denmark," Mr Palmer said. "Support is being arranged for her partner who remains in Christchurch."
Alpine Guides managing director Bryan Carter said the guide leading the group was fully qualified and highly experienced.
The company would investigate the accident.
- Additional reporting NZPA
