Christoph Heinrich Huelsmann was killed when a boulder struck him on Taranaki Maunga in 2023. Photo / Mark Mitchell / Supplied
Screams rang out on the summit track of Taranaki Maunga as several large rocks began tumbling down the mountain at speed.
One of the rocks was falling towards experienced tramper Christoph Heinrich Huelsmann, of Lower Hutt.
His partner Esther Feldmann called out to warn him and he started to run to avoid the rocks.
But tragically, he was struck by a boulder, causing him to fall for about 20m. He came to a stop about 10m from Feldmann.
She rushed to his aid and found him unresponsive with injuries to his head.
Feldmann put the 57-year-old father and grandfather in the recovery position and bystanders gathered to help.
One of the trampers activated their emergency locator beacon and two others, who were medical students, began resuscitation.
A medical team arrived by helicopter and took over but Huelsmann, a psychologist, could not be revived and his death was confirmed at the scene.
Today, Coroner Ian Telford released his findings into Huelsmann’s death.
They detailed how Huelsmann and Feldmann, also an experienced tramper, set off on a hike to the summit of Taranaki Maunga on the morning of April 23, 2023.
About 1pm, they reached the summit, where they had lunch before beginning their descent around 2pm.
Feldmann told the inquiry there were a lot of other people on the mountain and she was walking about 2m ahead of Huelsmann.
Around the time they reached the scoria section of the summit track, a climber above them was making their descent from the rocky ridge, known as the “Lizard”.
The climber was moving between rocks when they stepped on a large rock, about 1m in diameter, and it moved.
The climber stepped off the rock and it dislodged and began to roll down the mountain towards the people below. The climber called out to warn people.
Feldmann said she heard “screaming” and looked up the mountain.
She saw other trampers above the rocks and several large rocks falling down the mountain at speed, with one hurtling in Huelsmann’s direction.
A forensic pathologist went on to determine that Huelsmann’s death was caused by blunt injuries sustained to the head, consistent with him being hit by a boulder as described by witnesses.
Coroner Telford accepted the pathologist’s opinion as his formal finding.
In determining whether the death was preventable, the coroner considered an investigation report by the Department of Conservation (DoC).
The report noted Taranaki Maunga was a volatile environment with high rates of erosion and many instances of rockfall and landslides.
It said scoria slopes had been unstable in late April 2023, after heavy rain and snowfall.
“It also rained heavily on the previous day, April 22, 2023. Much of the fine material had been washed away on the North Ridge, leaving loose scoria,” the findings stated, referring to DoC’s report.
The report said the incident would have been difficult to prevent, a view shared by the Police Search and Rescue liaison officer.
“However, it was noted that there was little visitor information provided on rockfall risk at that time, and it was possible that signage or other visitor information on rockfalls may have heightened Mr Huelsmann’s awareness of the hazard.”
The report identified several actions it could take to help address rockfall risk, and last year, DoC filed a further report confirming it had completed those actions.
Those included improving signage effectiveness and installing warning signs about rockfall at key danger points, and improving rockfall messaging and details of the summit climb on various online platforms and at visitor centres.
In his findings, Coroner Telford said DoC’s investigation was thorough and he acknowledged the several actions it had instigated.
“In these circumstances, I do not consider that specific coronial recommendations are indicated, particularly as, in my view, this accident was not readily preventable.
“Nevertheless, I remain mindful that deaths occur with some regularity in these environments, including among highly experienced trampers such as Mr Huelsmann.
“After all, mountain climbing is, by its nature, an inherently hazardous pursuit, involving ever-present risks that cannot be entirely eliminated.”
The coroner referred to other inquiries into mountain deaths, including that of two climbers who summited Taranaki Maunga in May 2021.
“I therefore consider it important to highlight to all those using our mountains for recreational purposes, regardless of experience, of the importance of being familiar with the risks specific to their environment before setting off,” he said.
NZME previously reported that Huelsmann was a clinical psychologist who practised across Wellington.
He specialised in sports psychology and had worked in child and adolescent mental health as well as pain and injury rehabilitation.
Originally from Germany, Huelsmann had lived in New Zealand for at least 20 years at the time of his death.
Tara Shaskey is an assistant editor and reporter for the Open Justice team. She joined NZME in 2022 and has worked as a journalist since 2014.