Coroner hands down findings into bushwalker who died while walking the Overland Track in heavy snow

A bushwalker who died while walking the Overland Track in heavy snow in July 2016 brought about his own demise, a coroner has found.

The sign at the end of the Overland Track at the Lake St Clair visitor centre. Tasmania. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A BUSHWALKER who died while walking the Overland Track in heavy snow in July 2016 brought about his own demise, a coroner has found.

Hobart coroner Olivia McTaggart today handed down her findings into the death of Trevor John Tolputt, 55, who succumbed to hypothermia on July 14, 2016, not far from Narcissus Hut, which marks the end of the walk for the majority of walkers.

Narcissus Hut at the northern end of Lake St Clair. Picture: SUPPLIED

“Mr Tolputt, tragically, brought about his own demise by a series of poor decisions — to walk alone with inadequate clothing and equipment, to fail to plan for delays, to try to press on in extreme conditions … and, finally, to reject the assistance offered by other walkers that would likely have seen him safe,” Ms McTaggart said.

She said the inquest into Mr Tolputt’s death was held against a backdrop of other bushwalker deaths and the state’s Parks and Wildlife Service had made “considerable steps” over the past several years to address walker safety.

Although not found to be a factor that contributed to Mr Tolputt’s death, the inquest examined communication between the Lake St Clair Lodge and the Parks and Wildlife Service.

The inquest heard bushwalker Simon Cubbin came across Mr Tolputt about 1.2km from Narcissus Hut and Mr Tolputt refused chocolate offered to him by Mr Cubbin and an offer for Mr Tolputt to walk with Mr Cubbin, his partner and their 11-year-old son.

When Mr Tolputt did not arrive at the hut as expected that evening, Mr Cubbin used the only communication method available — a two-way radio between the hut and Lake St Clair Lodge — to report his concerns.

The inquest heard the information was not conveyed to the Parks and Wildlife Service.

Parks and Wildlife was not informed until Mr Cubbin made another radio call the following day about 9am to say he had found Mr Tolputt’s body.

The police search and rescue helicopter arrived at 12.50pm and took Mr Tolputt’s body to the Hobart mortuary.

Ms McTaggart said she had no doubt that if Parks and Wildlife was notified of Mr Cubbin’s concerns the previous evening, police would have been called.

But Ms McTaggart said even if Parks and Wildlife was notified that evening, it would not have changed Mr Tolputt’s situation.

Ms McTaggart made a series of recommendations to improve walker safety.