Tasmanian coroner states ‘death is one of the risks’ in Tas wilderness after climber’s 2023 death

An experienced Launceston climber, who horrifically fell to his death at Cradle Mountain in 2023, died instantly, a coroner has found. Here’s what the coroner warns.

A boulder sits precariously on a rock part of the way up the Cradle Mountain summit, along Tasmania's Overland Track, Monday, April 20, 2009. The six-day walk is a renowned trek for hikers across the world. (AAP Image/Adam Cooper)

A Tasmanian coroner has warned of those “accepting the risks” associated with recreational activities in the state’s wilderness in a report on the death of a Tasmanian bushwalker.

Invermay-born Samuel Liam Whinnett was just 38-years-old when he embarked on a hike on the unmarked Skyline Traverse track on Cradle Mountain, leading a group of three friends.

The Skyline Traverse track is a “rock scramble” across the four individual summits of Cradle Mountain.

Light and love: Sam Whinnett with his mother Helen (left) and partner Hannah (right).

In a coronial report, Coroner Olivia McTaggart described Mr Whinnett as a “very competent climber with many years of experience in indoor and outdoor climbing” who had a year prior also completed the same track.

On April 2, 2023, when Mr Whinnett climbed the track towards the top of the climb to the peak of Weindorfers Tower, the group encountered a boulder obstructing their climb.

Mr Whinnett’s decision to take the left-hand route, as opposed to the right-hand route that his friends took, resulted in him slipping on the climb and falling first to a ledge 20m below, then a further 100m.

Coroner McTaggart said Mr Whinnett died “instantly of massive head and chest injuries caused by both of the impacts”.

While weather conditions hampered Police search and rescue teams’ efforts to retrieve Mr Whinnett’s body, Coroner McTaggart highlighted that it was not raining at the time of the hike and overnight rain may have instead caused lichen-covered rocks to become slippery.

Cradle Mountain. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

“I find that Mr Whinnett accidentally lost his footing on a rock made very slippery by wet lichen,” Coroner McTaggart said.

“Tragically, this resulted in his fall down the face of the mountain and his death.”

Coroner McTaggart stated Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) had taken “commendable steps” to address visitor safety within the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

This included not providing information on the PWS website or in writing regarding the Skyline Traverse as well as categorising the track as “Not Managed for Visitor Services”.

“I consider that this policy is appropriate,” Coroner McTaggart said.

“This case highlights that death is one of the risks accepted by those choosing to embark upon such a recreational activity, even in the case of experienced climbers.”