A prominent New Zealand lawyer has died while mountain climbing in Australia.
Lee Lee Heah, 69, suffered a fatal fall on Tuesday while climbing Mount Arapiles, a world-famous rock climbing spot in western Victoria.
Emergency services were called to the area at around 3.30pm after the woman fell about eight meters from the final part of the climb, known as Esmiko Nell.
Veteran climber Zorba Parer, who was visiting the mountain separately from Ms Heah, heard a scream and freely climbed 80 meters up the rock face without a harness to reach her.
Two other climbers also followed him up the mountain, while another pair rappelled down about 100 feet at the summit.
“I could see a body stuck in the crevice, which didn’t look right, it looked like she had fallen straight onto the edge,” Mr Parer told the ABC.
“I got up and checked her, there was no pulse,” he said.
He said he pulled up the woman’s belay partner and, assisted by the five others, began CPR.
It took about 20 minutes to reach Ms Heah and another 20 minutes for a police rescue helicopter to arrive.
Lee Lee Heah (photo) suffered a fatal fall while climbing Mount Arapiles on Tuesday
The national park is considered one of the best climbing spots in the world
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Tributes to Ms Heah have been shared on social media.
“She was known for her rock climbing skills, having climbed many mountains in all parts of the world,” said her brother Mike Heah.
‘She was also a famous surfer. She just loved the outdoors.”
Another person said Ms Heah “loved life, her friends and family and was the best friend ever.”
‘What a beautiful inspiring soul. I will miss your infectious laugh and fantastic sense of humor,” said another.
Nicola Hansen, president of the Canterbury branch of the Criminal Bar Association, said Ms Heah was “a fierce advocate, completely unflappable in court, and represented her clients with unwavering determination.
“Her adventures outside the courtroom were legendary and awe-inspiring, a true testament to her courage and indomitable spirit.”
The Victorian Labor Government recently announced a permanent climbing ban on more than half of the routes on Mount Arapiles, after temporary bans were introduced on some routes in recent years.
Mount Arapiles attracts climbers from all over Australia and the world as it is considered one of the best rock climbing areas in the country.
The proposed plan, drawn up in consultation with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC), bans new routes and ‘off-track’ walking, even for bushwalkers.
Ms Heah was a well-known lawyer in Christchurch and an experienced climber
The Victorian Labor government this month announced a climbing ban on much of Mount Arapiles National Park, after consultation with a local Indigenous group.
It will introduce ‘designated areas’ as the only approved climbing locations, which will result in 63 percent of previously climbable terrain being off-limits.
Recreational activities near cultural heritage areas are also not permitted, although it is unclear where the line is drawn.
According to the organization Save Grampians Climbing, climbers make up 90 percent of all visitors to Mt Arapiles State Park, with more than 50,000 people visiting each year.
Declaration Crag in the Arapiles National park has already been formally closed via a ‘protection declaration’, with the maximum penalty for violation being a $297,000 fine for an individual.
“No actual climbing organization was consulted regarding these bans on the climbing area in Arapiles,” the group said.
“Climbing Victoria, the peak body representing outdoor climbers in Victoria, and the Australian Climbing Association Victoria were both blindsided by the announcement on Melbourne Cup Eve.”