“I would say [she travelled] several hundred metres in estimation ... it’s a very narrow, gorgey, rocky sort of an area with fast-flowing water.
“She was obviously travelling downstream and out of sight of family. People were desperate to try and, you know, rescue her, but unfortunately she travelled quite a distance. They located her further downstream.
“Quite a lot of emergency services attended, everyone played their part in trying to rescue and resuscitate the wee girl. Unfortunately she couldn’t be saved.”
Hollebon dealt with the family yesterday, who had travelled from New South Wales. There were two other siblings within the group, he said.
The family were “utterly devastated”.
The Department of Conservation announced today they will launch an internal investigation into the incident.
DoC Te Anau operations manager Graeme Davies said it was not aware of any damage to Marian Track following last weekend’s storm.
An inspection of Marian Track yesterday also found no visible damage to any structures, Davis said.
He said an internal safety investigation will be done, as is standard process after any serious event.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said in a statement the family had lost a young daughter and sister and police were doing what they could to support them.
“Both Police and Victim Support are working with the child’s whānau, and a police family liaison officer is keeping them up to date with the investigation. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time and, understandably, they have requested privacy. A report will be presented to the Coroner once the investigation is complete.”
A walking tour guide told the Herald the rocky and fast-flowing stream was essentially “a waterfall on its back”.
“Once you go in there it wouldn’t matter if you’re a 10-year-old child or a 20-year-old,” said Ray Horrell of Fiordland Walks.
“It’s very, very sad,” said Horrell, who was not present when the incident happened.
He said the rocks around the area would be wet and a bit slippery, especially for an “unsuspecting” child.
The creek below was a “very steep, constant flow, like a cascade”.
“It cascades all the way from Lake Marian. You could call it a waterfall ... a waterfall on its back.”
He said the creek tumbles quickly over many rocks and would be difficult to rescue someone from. If anyone had jumped in after the girl they would likely have also found themselves in danger.
Operations manager for Trips and Tramps, Madeleine Peacock, said there is a short track near the creek which people can walk to for a view off a wooden platform referred to as a “gantry”.
She said the area had been upgraded since flooding in 2020 and was reasonably well-maintained.
“That part is really popular with people,” she said.
“We will often take people up to that viewing gantry. There’s some health and safety around that particular activity.
“There’s some points where, you know, it’s potentially dangerous. We make sure we manage those appropriately for our clients . . . we always advise clients to stay on the track, if they stay on the track they will be safe because that part of the track can be close to the water.”
Peacock said everyone at their company’s thoughts went out to the family of the girl.
“It’s just a terribly, terribly tragic event.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Conservation has inspected the area since the incident and confirmed there was no visible damage to any structures.
“Regardless, we’ll also be undertaking an internal safety investigation – which is our standard process following any serious incident,” said Te Anau operations manager Graeme Davies.
“It’s always distressing to hear of tragic instances like this. We want everyone to enjoy these vast, wild spaces safely and our hearts go out to all involved.”
Melissa Nightingale is a Wellington-based reporter who covers crime, justice and news in the capital. She joined the Herald in 2016 and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
