One person dead after being trapped in avalanche during heli-skiing trip in Southern Alps

One person has died in an avalanche after becoming trapped during a heli-skiing trip in Mid Canterbury.

Police were notified of the avalanche in the Southern Alps at 12.25pm today. A search and rescue team was immediately scrambled to the area.

“One person was trapped in the avalanche and was in a critical condition when recovered at around 1pm,” police said in a statement.

One person has died following an avalanche in Mid Canterbury. Photo / George Heard

The person died a short time later. Their name has not yet been released. No one else is unaccounted for.

A helicopter from Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue was dispatched to the area around Mt Arrowsmith in the Ashburton Lakes District.

Rescue pilot Dan McPherson confirmed one person had died. He said a group was in the area heli-skiing when the avalanche happened.

A Herald photographer on the scene said police and other rescue staff took time to speak to witnesses while the heli-skiers loaded their equipment into their car. They left for the heliski base about 3pm, he said

A spokesman for GHC Aviation, which operates the air rescue service, told the Herald the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ) notified them of a possible avalanche or mudslide at 12.18pm.

The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue helicopter was en route to the Mt Arrowsmith area in the Southern Alps where there has been a report of an avalanche. Photo / Flightradar24

The reported location of the avalanche, just south of Mt Arrowsmith, is about 46km west of Mt Hutt and about 130km west of Christchurch. Photo / Flightradar24

The reported location of the avalanche, just south of Mt Arrowsmith, is about 46km west of Mt Hutt and about 130km west of Christchurch.

The Avalanche Advisory, owned and operated by the Mountain Safety Council, issues avalanche advisories for the public in 13 alpine regions, but not the Arrowsmith area.

One person has died following an avalanche in Mid Canterbury. Photo / George Heard

‘Conservative decision-making essential’ – Mountain Safety Council

Earlier this month, the Mountain Safety Council urged skiers, snowboarders and climbers to check avalanche warnings before heading out.

Following heavy snowfall during the first week of September, the Mountain Safety Council issued avalanche warnings to remain in place for parts of the South Island.

There was a high risk of avalanches for Ōhau in the Mackenzie Basin where there are “very dangerous avalanche conditions” and travel in “avalanche terrain” was not recommended”.

Considerable avalanche risks remained for Arthur’s Pass, Aoraki Mt Cook, Two Thumbs, Queenstown, Wānaka, Fiordland and Aspiring, as well as Tongariro in the centre of the North Island.

A helicopter from Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue has been dispatched to the area around Mt Arrowsmith in the Ashburton Lakes District. Photo / Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust

There are “dangerous conditions” in these locations and “conservative decision-making is essential,” the council said.

Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley told Newstalk ZB people should not travel in areas with avalanche warnings and should stay inbound and within ski fields.

“Be really clear that you have the skills and knowledge to move yourself out of avalanche paths.

“It doesn’t mean people can’t go into the snow areas. It’s particularly important to know that if you are in a skifield area you are protected with professional ski and avalanche management.

“These warnings exist for people outside those ski fields.”

He pointed to the large dumping of snow much of the lower half of the South Island had experienced during the past few days for the increased avalanche risks.

He said things normally slow down at this time of year, but, during the past couple of winters, there have been some late snow dumpings.