Mountain flyover finds teen adventurer's body in thawed ice shelf

The body of an Auckland teenager has been found six months after he died falling through an ice shelf.

Edward Sai Louie, 18, who was studying engineering at Canterbury University, was skiing with a friend on Mt Rolleston, in Arthurs Pass National Park, last September 12 when he fell. His friend spent about two hours fruitlessly digging for him.

Mr Sai Louie's family were too distressed to talk yesterday after getting the news his body had been found, but his sister Frances said last year that her brother loved adventure and pushing himself.

"Although this is a terrible loss, he was in the mountains doing something he loved."

His older brother James said: "We are so proud of him - that he was not afraid to do what he loved."

Mr Sai Louie's love for the outdoors was always evident as he went through Epsom Normal Primary School, St Kentigern School and as a top kayaker, skier and adventure racer at Auckland Grammar School.

He represented the school in kayaking, and was a well-known face at the annual Adventure Racing Coromandel kayaking event.

Senior Constable Phil Simmonds, of Canterbury police Search and Rescue, said his team always had a pretty good idea where Mr Sai Louie's body was, but any recovery effort had been delayed by the build-up of snow and ice.

This had thawed, and settled weather allowed a flyover yesterday which located the body. An alpine cliff rescue team was then able to go in to get the body.

Articles belonging to Mr Sai Louie were found in the area where his body was retrieved.

Mr Simmonds said he hoped the recovery of Mr Sai Louie's body would give his family some closure.

The coroner will decide next week about a post-mortem examination, and an inquiry will be held into his death.