An Israeli tourist who died while tramping in Fiordland was most likely led away from the main path, police have told a coroner's inquest.
The body of Liat Okin, 35, was found on May 16 last year about 1km from off the Routeburn track.
In Queenstown yesterday, Sergeant Brock Davis
of Invercargill police told the inquest he was able to track the route Ms Okin had taken using photographs found on her camera, The Southland Times reported.
Shortly after leaving MacKenzie Hut on March 26 she turned onto an emergency route with difficult terrain.
"By far the greatest likelihood is that Liat Okin was shown the start of the emergency route and assisted up through it," Mr Davis said.
It was not known who had escorted her but police believed she had been left to fend for herself after a photo was taken, about 40 minutes walk from the main track.
Department of Conservation warden Evan Smith who had spoken with Ms Okin at the hut said he had not shown her that path.
DOC track worker Clive Rule, who marked out the route, said it would have been immediately clear to trampers that they were no longer on the correct path.
It was believed Ms Okin fell about 40 metres from slippery rocks, injuring her head and back and died shortly after.
In his final finding yesterday Coroner Dave Crerar made no mention of the theory Ms Okin had been joined by another person. He said it seemed illogical for her to have left the track for no reason.
Mr Crerar did not hold any individual or organisation responsible for her death.
Earlier this month Ms Okin's family travelled to New Zealand with plans to walk the track and place a memorial plaque near MacKenzie Hut.
The coroner's full report was expected within three weeks.
- NZPA
