Mt Taranaki double tragedy: Climber Peter Kirkwood had just become a father, widow reveals
5 May, 2021 11:35 PM
4 minutes to read
Peter Kirkwood died on Mt Taranaki on Tuesday.
A climber who died on Mt Taranaki on Tuesday has been remembered by his devastated wife as an adventurous soul who had recently become a father.
Dr Peter Brian Kirkwood, 33, and Richard Phillips - Christchurch-based engineering geologists – died climbing the mountain on Tuesday night.
One of the climbers raised the alarm with police on Tuesday night saying the other had fallen.
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Peter Kirkwood died on Mt Taranaki on Tuesday. Photo / Supplied
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police have today recovered the bodies of two men who died while climbing Taranaki Maunga on Tuesday night.
The formal identification process is still underway to confirm the menâs identities, however Police believe them to be missing men Peter Kirkwood and Richard Phillips.
Police are liaising with the families of both Mr Kirkwood and Mr Phillips at this tragic time.
We would like to reiterate our thanks to Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and Taranaki Alpine Cliff Rescue staff who assisted Police throughout this operation.
A statement on behalf of Mr Kirkwood and Mr Phillips families is below:
The bodies of two climbers are being recovered off Mount Taranaki following an incident overnight.
The bodies of two climbers were located on Mt Taranaki just after midnight (file picture).
Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
The pair were from Christchurch and worked for the environmental and engineering consultancy Tonkin and Taylor.
In a statement on its website, group managing director Dr Tim Fisher said the company was notified this morning that two of its treasured people were invovled in the accident.
Dr Fisher said the company s priority now was to support the two men s families and staff.
He thanked Taranaki Police and Search and Rescue for their service and support.
Mountain tragedy: Two climbers die after falling near Mt Taranaki summit
5 May, 2021 01:02 AM
Quick Read
Two climbers are dead after a tragic accident on Mt Taranaki.
NZ Herald
A recovery operation is under way to retrieve the bodies of two climbers after an accident near the top of Mt Taranaki.
A police spokesman said police and Alpine Cliff Rescue staff were trying to recover the bodies and conduct a scene examination.
A search and rescue operation was mounted after police were told a climber had fallen just before 10pm yesterday and the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter flew over the area.
A police spokesperson said the bodies of two climbers were spotted just after midnight.
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