Dead ski guide had rescued tourist

Jonny Morgan. Photo / Supplied

A Heliski guide killed in an avalanche helped save an Australian tourist on the same mountain range just three weeks earlier.

Jonny Morgan, 38, died after being buried in an avalanche on Totara Peak in the Ragged Ranges in Mid Canterbury at about 4pm on Friday.

He was a lead guide for Methven Heliski, where he had worked for about 13 years, and was skiing with four tourists - two Australian and two Japanese - when the avalanche hit.

One tourist was hospitalised overnight with minor injuries.

Morgan and Kevin Boekholt were hailed as heroes on July 24 after rescuing Melbourne real estate agent John Castran from an avalanche. They were unable to save another Australian, Llynden Riethmuller.

Methven Heliski managing director Bryan Carter said yesterday Morgan had been partially buried for about 15 minutes on Friday.

He was unconscious when found and treated for about two hours before he died.

"The six other guides got there pretty quickly. The likely cause of death was trauma rather than being buried," said Carter.

The Department of Labour and police are investigating.

Carter said the avalanche risk on Friday was "considerable", the middle of five levels of danger.

Heliskiing in the area had been "tricky" over the past few months but better weather had helped stabilise the snow.

The company would review its procedures but had no intention of shutting down. The deaths of Morgan and Riethmuller's deaths were the first for the company, founded in 1986.

"We think the proximity is a real nightmare statistically. But we've got a pretty good record. Unfortunately we can't eliminate the risks."

Morgan, who lived with his partner in Methven, was a qualified ski guide and aspiring climbing guide. In 2004 he received a medal from the Royal Humane Society for his attempts to rescue a heliskiier who fell down a crevasse.

"He lived and breathed for skiing and climbing," said Carter. "He was probably the most dedicated guide you could have found in terms of his commitment to the job."