Overview
- Police recovered both bodies on Tuesday after the pair were found deceased around 7 a.m. local time following an 11:20 p.m. distress alert from their four-person party.
- The victims were roped together near the summit on the west side when they fell, with a search-and-rescue pilot reporting one climber slipped and pulled the other off the ridge.
- Two other members of the group were airlifted off the mountain uninjured at about 2:15 a.m. as helicopters and specialist teams conducted overnight operations.
- Authorities say they are working under the coroner’s jurisdiction and contacting next of kin, and they will not release further details until families are notified.
- The New Zealand Mountain Guides Association and Mountain Safety Council signaled reviews and support for those affected, noting a busy climbing period and the high-consequence risks on Aoraki/Mount Cook.