Coroner releases Te Mata Peak fatality findings

FATAL ACCIDENT: The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter winched John Warren off Te Mata Peak in February this year after he fell from a mountain biking trail. PHOTO/FILE.

The coroner has released his findings into the February death of John Warren, a school principal and husband of former Iona principal Shannon Warren.

The report -written by coroner Tim Scott - states the 60-year-old died on February 7 at Hawke's Bay Hospital, as a result of chest injuries sustained earlier that day in a mountain biking accident on Te Mata Peak.

"The facts relating to the actual crash are that John was heard to scream. His mountain bike was seen to leave the edge of the track and topple together with John to a lower track with John continuing to fall.

"Put simply John lost control of his mountain bike."

Mr Warren's helmet had been found at the bottom of the track. Mr Scott wrote he did not know how it became dislodged, but was satisfied Mr Warren was wearing a helmet before the crash.

Mr Warren was described as being "very fit", and an experienced road cyclist by his wife. He had taken up mountain biking when he came to New Zealand, and had rode on Te Mata Peak on either his road, or mountain bike hundreds of times.

He had around a year and a half experience with the mountain bike he was using at the time of the accident.

There were no recommendations made about the safety "or otherwise" of the track, but the Te Mata Peak Park trustees were recommended to undertake a safety audit of it.

Based on photographs, "there does not seem to me to be anything particularly dangerous about the track except that it traverses the steep side of Te Mata Peak - which is almost vertical".

"Obviously if a rider loses control and the bike and the rider fall from that track down the steep side of Te Mata Peak there is going to be trouble."

Mr Scott recommended the safety audit be undertaken preferably with the help and input from experienced adult mountain bike riders to determine the tracks safety, and that they follow any suggestions from this.

"Otherwise I accept that there is an element of risk about many sporting activities and mountain biking is just one of these."

The Te Mata Peak Park trust offered their "sincere condolences and sympathy to all members of John's family and especially to John's wife, Shannon".

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident," chair Mike Devonshire said.

"The Trust are taking all appropriate steps to extensively evaluate the incident and the environment in which it occurred."

As recommended in the report, the trust had contracted a national outdoor safety company, Peak Safety and Emergency Management, to undertake a comprehensive review of the track.

"The review resulted in an assessment of the track as low risk when cycling uphill and medium risk when cycling downhill," Mr Devonshire said.

It recommended further potential risk mitigation strategies; a barrier at the top of the track, and very clear signage. The review found a barrier fence was not required on the trail.

These recommendations were implemented. The Trust had also organised a full safety review of all walking and biking trails within the Park.

The Trust, together with Hastings District Council, worked closely with Peak Safety & Emergency Management to assess the overall hazards and risk mitigation strategies within Te Mata Park, and were in the process of implementing recommendations from this.