Latvian climbers die on NZ peak

Mt Cook has challenging climbing routes

The bodies of four Latvian climbers have been found dead near to the summit of New Zealand's highest mountain.

The three men and a woman were found by a guide on Mount Cook, and appeared to have fallen at least 300 metres (1,000 feet) from the summit, said police.

Three of the climbers, who had not been reported missing, were roped together and a fourth lay near by.

Police said it was too early to speculate but weather conditions at the time were said to be clear and sunny.

The incident takes the death toll on Mount Cook to seven since the beginning of the year.

Constable Brent Swanson of New Zealand police said they "appeared to have taken a massive fall from near the summit of Mount Cook".

Identification

"All had suffered massive trauma indicating a fall of at least 300 metres (1,000 feet)," he added.

"They were most likely roped together, however one was found un-roped when rescuers arrived at the scene."

The bodies have been taken to a nearby village for identification and Interpol will advise the next of kin.

Mount Cook is located on New Zealand's South Island, 700 kilometres (435 miles) southwest of the capital Wellington.

It is one of 22 peaks in the Aoraki and Mount Cook national park, attracting thousands of climbers every year.

At least 95 climbers have died on the 3,754-metre (12,349-foot) Mount Cook mountain in the last 75 years.

"Mount Cook is not as high as Mount Everest but has some of the most technically challenging routes," documentary maker John Hyde told the New Zealand press association.