A tramper is believed to have fallen to his death on the Routeburn track.
Police and search and rescue teams were deployed to the area today after it was reported the man and his companion were missing.
A helicopter found a woman in a hut on the track, but her male companion is believed to have died after falling down a slope.
Otago lakes central area commander Olaf Jensen said police and SAR would return to the track tomorrow in an effort to locate the man, conditions permitting.