Swedish tourist dies after fall in Nelson Lakes

Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

A Swedish tourist has been found dead at the bottom of a waterfall in Nelson Lakes National Park this morning after an extensive search, police say.

Ivar Sturesson-Bolin, 25, arrived in New Zealand one week ago and travelled to Nelson last Wednesday.

He and his travelling companion were in the country for a hunting holiday and had visited a Nelson person, who had previously been an exchange student in Sweden, before before they headed into the hills.

Police said the hunters got separated in the Shift Creek area of Nelson Lakes National Park late on Saturday and Mr Sturesson-Bolin's companion became concerned when he did not arrive at Coldwater Hut, at the head of Lake Rotoiti.

Shortly after midnight, he contacted police and search teams were deployed.

Five search teams, two confinement teams, specialist rope teams and two dog teams conducted extensive searches on Sunday. A helicopter with night vision capability was also used overnight.

At 9.50am today one of the rope rescue teams found Mr Sturesson-Bolin's body at the bottom of a waterfall in Shift Creek. It is believed he died from injuries sustained in a fall down the cliff face.

His family in Sweden and the Swedish Embassy have been informed.

His companion is being looked after by Victim Support staff in Nelson.

- NZ Herald staff