Fatal fall: Adventurer died after taking dangerous coastal route

Photo / File

An experienced tramper and adventurer died after taking a risky coastal route and falling on his head, a coroner has found.

David Hutton, 72, died after tramping in Kahurangi National Park near Nelson last summer.

A father and son hiking in the area discovered a tramper's pack near Kahurangi lighthouse on March 2 last year. The pack appeared to have been in water.

The father and son found Mr Hutton's body a few minutes later lying at about the high tide mark on the foreshore near the mouth of the Kahurangi River.

Mr Hutton, of Ruby Bay near Nelson, died sometime after 5pm on February 27, when he signed out of a Department of Conservation hut.

Three days before the tramp, Mr Hutton told a friend he woke up feeling strange and lightheaded. He suffered from low blood pressure but was otherwise in good health.

He faced two choices when hiking between Kahurangi lighthouse to the Heaphy River. There was a steep, inland, rocky route through dense bush, or a coastal route.

In his finding, Coroner David Crerar said Mr Hutton chose the "more dangerous coastal route" which was also rocky, but dependent on good low tides and favourable ocean conditions.

A couple who encountered Mr Hutton on February 27 discussed with him the coastal "rock-hopping" route he intended to take.

"Although David Hutton seemed to be very confident, they did warn him to watch the weather as this was predicted to deteriorate," Coroner Crerar said.

Mr Hutton left a note in the Kahurangi Keeper's House at 5pm on Thursday February 27. He was never seen alive again.

Pathologist Dr Ken Anderson carried out a post-mortem examination.

Dr Anderson found parts of Mr Hutton's skull were shattered and fractured, injuries typical when a person fell on their head. There was no sign of any alcohol in Mr Hutton's system.

The coroner said there was no doubt Mr Hutton's death was accidental.

"There is no evidence that the actions [of] David Hutton were designed to facilitate his death and there was no evidence that any other person was present or contributed to the death.

It remained unclear exactly where Mr Hutton fell.

"It must be speculated [he] was forced by the terrain, and possibly the tide, to travel up the river to attain a crossing place. Whilst scrambling over rocky terrain, David Hutton has lost his balance and fallen."

The coroner said a medical event or inadequate footwear - Mr Hutton was wearing wetsuit booties with poor grip - could have caused the fall.

Although a good tramper, Mr Hutton was a poor swimmer. He wore a wetsuit, not so he could swim, but to make his way around rocks were he was likely to get wet.

The coroner said Mr Hutton's death served as a reminder to solo trampers to think twice before taking risks.

"Decision-making is compromised if there is no opportunity for discussion with others in the party."

After his death, loved ones described Mr Hutton as an adventurer and traveller.

He enjoyed paragliding and deep sea diving, was a "staunch conservationist" and also a painter, his stepson Cameron Trott told Fairfax.

Coroner Crerar extended his sympathy and condolences to Mr Hutton's friends and family.

The coroner said he'd arrange to have the new finding sent to outdoor education groups to ensure the risks of solo tramping were recognised.