High country man lost while exploring the land he loved

The family of lost high country legend Arthur Borrell have wonderful memories but no body to lay to rest.

A large search failed to find the renowned Central Otago farmer and environmentalist who disappeared in April while taking photographs on the remote Branches high country station he farmed for 33 years, often while barefoot.

The only signs found by searchers were his blue utility vehicle, a tramping stick and clothing.

At a coroner's inquest yesterday, more than seven months after he disappeared, Arthur Lawrence Borrell, 75, was declared dead as the result of an accident.

Coroner Alan Macalister found Mr Borrell had fallen 85m down a bluff and into the Shiel Burn River. Police believe Mr Borrell's body may be trapped under rocks in the river.

Mr Borrell was a "legend in his own time", Mr Macalister said.

"Very few live up to that expression in the way that Arthur did. He was a man on a mission in his concern and protection of the high country."

Mr Borrell's daughter, Heather Fleming, has fond memories of living on the 45,000ha station with her father in the most extreme conditions.

"At the beginning the phone line was a bit of number eight wire draped over the hill and when it snowed it was cut," she said after the hearing.

"We had to get supplies in before the winter or we would order bits from the aero club who would fly them in. We were the first people to winter over there."

Mrs Fleming will always remember her father walking barefoot on the station.

"He saw an article in the National Geographic about [barefoot] sherpas in Tibet and decided he could save some shoe leather and do the same. He had very, very tough feet," she said.

Mrs Fleming said she was comfortable with the fact that her father's body might never be found "because it is in an area he absolutely loved".

Mr Borrell left a note saying he was going to take photographs of snowgrass tussock on the day he died. He was fit for his age and known to be in good health.

Detective Constable Tim Johnson said it was highly unlikely Mr Borrell would have survived the fall. Heavy rain had raised the level of the Shiel Burn River and Mr Borrell's body would have been washed downstream.

He had arranged to meet people after his visit to the Shiel Burn area, and there was no sign he had left the country.

Up to 45 people searched for Mr Borrell, including family, friends, police, and four helicopters.

Mr Johnson said the search had been extensive but a number of areas were too rugged to check.