Bushwalker falls to his death at Federation Peak
A bushwalker who fell off a difficult hiking trail has been found dead by police searchers.
The Victorian man in his 30s fell from a bushwalking trail on Federation Peak in Tasmania’s Southwest National Park about 11am on Monday.
Two of his friends called the police, prompting air and ground searches, which were called off at nightfall.
A Westpac Police rescue helicopter was launched the following morning and the man’s body was located about 9am on Tuesday.
The helicopter retrieved the body before the two others were taken to safety.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Part of the hike around the summit involves winding along a narrow path while clinging to the exposed rock face with no supports above a 600-meter drop.
A Victorian man died after falling from a rugged bushwalking track on Federation Peak (stock image), in Tasmania’s south-west, on Monday.
The death comes after a 27-year-old man died while attempting to complete the Eastern Arthur Traverse last Wednesday and marks the third death on the peak since 2016.
The British-born New Zealander was living in Melbourne and had traveled to Apple Isle for the 72km walk, but was unable to contact a friend as previously planned.
Search efforts for the man were complicated because he was not carrying a personal locator beacon.
Search teams eventually discovered a “hat, gloves and a backpack cover” which led to his body being located on a nearby rock wall.
Victoria Police said he died from a “significant fall” on one of the trails to Federation Peak, which rises 1,224 meters above sea level.
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services warn that trails to the summit are ‘not to be underestimated’.
“This walk is for physically capable and very experienced walkers who are comfortable with navigation, cliffs and rock climbing, carrying luggage and extreme weather,” the Parks and Wildlife Services website says.
Inspector Colin Riley described the peak as ‘probably one of the most challenging walks we have in Tasmania’.
“It’s very dangerous, it’s steep and slippery, and weather conditions can change extremely quickly,” he said, the ABC reported.
He is the third person to die on the hike since 2016. Authorities describe it as ‘one of the most challenging’ in the state at 1,224 meters above sea level (pictured)
The body of a 54-year-old Queensland man was also found in Southwest National Park on Saturday.
Police were alerted to the emergency by a personal locator beacon just after 11am and sent a rescue helicopter to the Western Arthur Range Traverse.
Another bushwalker had discovered the unconscious man and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.
A second international tourist, 60, was also found unconscious on a circuit in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park on Christmas Day.
Police attended to the man shortly afterwards at the intersection of the Hansons Peak and Twisted Lakes tracks, but pronounced him dead.
None of the deaths are considered suspicious.