25 Feb 2012

Fallen climber's body recovered

6:17 am on 25 February 2012

The body of a mountaineer has been recovered from the Homer Ridge, near Queenstown.

Police says Athol thomas Whimp, 50, appears to have slipped while descending the Ridge and fallen 800 metres, before coming to rest on a ledge above the Homer Tunel opening on Thursday.

His body was recovered by helicopter on Friday afternoon.

Police say Mr Whimp grew up in Rangiora, but had lived in Australia for 20 years.

He was holidaying in New Zealand at the time and was accompanied by two other climbers.