Police have confirmed that young people were involved in a fatal fall at a cliff on the Coromandel Peninsula last night where one person died and a second was rescued.
Emergency services responded to the incident, which occurred at what 1News understands to be the northwest end of Hahei Beach, at around 8.15pm.
“One person was located at the bottom of the cliff face in a critical condition, however they later died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said.
The second person was located trapped on the cliff uninjured with a Lines Rescue Team from Fire and Emergency NZ deployed to retrieve them.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said volunteers from Hahei and a specialist rescue line team from Hamilton responded and rescued one person who was stuck on the cliffs.
“One person was located at the bottom of the cliff face in a critical condition, however they later died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said. (Source: 1News)
Senior station officer Colin Klenner told 1News rescuers had to abseil down a rock face to reach the second person.
“They were about 15-20m up the cliff face, but the nearest spot to get to start a rescue was about 80m further up into the bush.”
The rescue was “challenging” and “particularly difficult” due to the rugged coastline and thick bush, he said.
St John said said it responded with one ambulance, one first response unit and one helicopter.
Hahei Beach is a popular summer holiday destination and is located immediately east of Cathedral Cove.
The death would be referred to the Coroner.
