Experienced ski patroller Troy Forsyth killed in Mt Dixon avalanche
Troy Forsyth, a ski patroller and avalanche safety officer, was buried and died in an avalanche on the east face of Mt Dixon in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
An avalanche on Sunday buried Troy Forsyth on the east face of Mt Dixon in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, killing the experienced mountaineer. Forsyth, an avalanche snow safety officer and ski patroller at The Remarkables Ski Area in Queenstown, also assisted as a ski guide with the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association, was skiing with three other seasoned companions when the slide occurred near the summit. Police launched a search and rescue operation after being alerted around 10 am, and Senior Sergeant Craig Ellison confirmed the victim was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Fellow guide Will Rowntree called Forsyth "deeply talented and respected," while MSC chief executive Mike Daisley warned that even experts cannot eliminate avalanche risk. MSC operations manager Nathan Watson noted recent snowfall and changing snowpack layers can create hidden instability despite good weather. The death will be referred to the coroner.
Why it matters
The incident highlights that avalanche danger persists even for highly trained mountain professionals.
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