Magnus Kastengren nears the summit of New Zealand's Mt. Aspiring last month (photo: Andreas Fransson)

Skier Dies on New Zealand’s Mt. Cook

Aoraki-Mt. Cook, New Zealand – An experienced climber, skier and filmmaker died on Sunday while skiing near the summit of New Zealand’s Mt. Cook.

Magnus Kastengren nears the summit of New Zealand's Mt. Aspiring last month (photo: Andreas Fransson)
Magnus Kastengren nears the summit of New Zealand’s Mt. Aspiring last month (photo: Andreas Fransson)

Magnus Kastengren, 32, of Sweden, was traversing near the Summit Ridge Porter Col of Mt. Cook towards the mountain’s lower summit with professional skier Andreas Fransson, also of Sweden, when he slipped and fell 600 meters, or nearly 2,000 feet, to his death.

Fransson accompanied members of the Department of Conservation Aoraki-Mt. Cook Alpine Rescue Team to the scene of the incident to recover Kastengren’s body. Fransson has since returned to Sweden, but his online blog has yet to be updated since Oct. 25, following his and Kastengren’s climb and ski of Mt. Aspiring in New Zealand.

Sunday’s fatality was the third death at Aoraki-Mt. Cook National Park since September. That month, Australian resident Duncan Robert Rait, 36, died after falling 150 meters near the Tasman Saddle Hut. The following day, a 32-year-old Briton living in New Zealand died after falling 700 meters near the Mt. Sefton Bivvy, above the Mueller Glacier.

 

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