Arabic version: تحذير من قاضي الوفيات بشأن قمة فيديريشن بعد وفاة متنزّه

According to ABC News, a 30-year-old Victorian bushwalker who died on Tasmania’s Federation Peak in December 2024 had turned back with companions when he fell, a coronial report has found.

Coroner Madeleine Wilson said the man, identified as SU, and his partner were hiking the Eastern Arthur Range Traverse in Southwest National Park. They had allowed 10 days for the wilderness walk and carried appropriate clothing, supplies and a personal locator beacon, but left the beacon and most of their packs at camp before attempting the summit on December 30 with another walker.

The group encountered difficulty locating the poorly marked route and decided to retreat after seeing exposed drops around them. While trying to find a way down, SU went around a rock and out of sight. His companions heard a gasp-like sound followed by at least two distant thuds. A search and rescue team found his body at the base of the peak the following morning; police estimated he fell between 80 and 100 metres.

Wilson described Federation Peak as notoriously difficult and said the Eastern Arthur Range walk was suited to highly experienced walkers with specialised skills. She warned that Federation Peak was an ambitious choice for a first Tasmanian bushwalk and urged walkers to consult Parks and Wildlife Service information, assess whether their experience is comparable to the route and be prepared to turn back.

Former Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Paul Helleman called the climb “extremely dangerous” and said it was not an established, maintained track. He said experience on the Larapinta Trail was largely irrelevant to mountainous Tasmanian conditions, which he described as colder, wetter and involving other dangers.