Man dies after accidentally falling in Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake

Mt Ruapehu. Photo/ Bevan Conley

A 39-year-old man is dead after accidentally falling in the Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake.

The Taupo resident was reported missing on Friday night when he did not return home after skiing at Whakapapa ski field on Mt Ruapehu.

Initial inquiries confirmed the man's car was in the ski field carpark but he could not be located.

Due to bad weather at the time, no searches of the mountain were able to be conducted that night.

Early on Saturday morning ground teams and helicopters were used to carry out a search of the mountain.

After a short search the skier was located dead in the Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake.

A police spokesperson said initial indications were the man accidentally fell into the lake.

"It is an absolute tragedy for this man's family. He was located at an area where many people go to get views of the lake," Senior Sergeant Grant Alabaster said.

Sergeant Alabaster said family had joined the search earlier today and have been advised of his death.

"We are thankful we were able to locate him in a relatively short period of time to enable us to get him back to his family."

The matter has been referred to the Coroner.